Following a successful eight month trial period of operation, Six Senses is to quadruple the size of its solar power system at its flagship Soneva Fushi resort in the Maldives.

Already said to be the largest renewable energy plant currently operated in the Maldives, the 70kW solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant system, once quadrupled in size, will provide almost half of the resort's electricity.

Sonu Shivdasani, CEO and chair of Six Senses, said: "This is a significant first step in achieving our commitment of a net zero carbon footprint for Soneva Fushi by 2012 as well as supporting the carbon reduction goals of the Maldives government. We are hoping that our example will lead other resorts to pursue solar PV as a low cost, clean energy alternative."

The 'grid parity' system was fabricated in an easy-to-assemble kit form by Beck Electric of Germany. The entire system was then shipped to the Maldives and installed in two weeks by a team of 10 local workers. The panels have been discreetly assembled in the middle of the island's jungle. Details: www.sixsenses.com