Goes Green with Solar Power

The luxury resort, The Standard, Huruvalhi Maldives, located on Huruvalhi Island in the Raa Atoll, has disclosed the implementation of solar panels as a part of its dedication to sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives. Since November 2023, the resort has relied on solar energy as its primary electricity source, and it has plans to transition the entire island to solar power.

Switching out carbon-heavy products for environmentally friendly options is a crucial move in the fight against climate change. According to Boripat Louichareon, the Managing Director of Standard Asia, their recently implemented solar power system can generate 750 kWp (kilowatt-peak), leading to an annual fuel saving of about 230,000 liters and a decrease of 588.8 tons of CO2 emissions. Plans are in place to significantly increase its capacity in the near future.

The resort has introduced multiple green initiatives in addition to the solar panels. These include banning single-use plastic, using glass bottles filled on-site instead of bottled water, transitioning to low-wattage LED bulbs and eco-friendly villa amenities, as well as composting organic waste on a nearby island to fertilize fruit and vegetable gardens.

The resort promotes the use of bicycles and electric-powered buggies for guests and staff to get around. At the Dive Center, visitors can discover the Coral Conservation Initiative and explore the coral nursery, where a team of dive specialists work to restore the damaged reef to a healthy state by creating a coral garden.

Louichareon stated that since the resort opened in 2019, efforts have been made to operate the island using clean energy rather than fossil fuels. The solar project is a significant advancement in making The Standard Huruvalhi Maldives a carbon-neutral resort that protects the island.