Maldives to tap into wind power

PHOTO

The sea-threatened Maldives is taking a lead with wind turbines for its eletricity supplies. [iStockphoto]

Last Updated: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:40:00 +1100

The Maldives hopes a new $US200 million wind farm project will help make the low-lying archipelago carbon-neutral by 2020.

Officials expect the construction of the wind turbine facility - on a small islet north of the capital, Male - to be complete within 20 months.

They say it should supply more than half the country's electricity needs.

Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed has said the 75-megawatt farm will reduce emissions in his country by 25 percent.

His cabinet met underwater last month to focus global attention on rising sea levels - which threaten the Maldives.

It was to focus world attention on a key United Nations summit in Copenhagen in December.