Thermal electricity serves as Iran’s top power resource
Thermal power plants (TPPs) are the main contributors to Iran’s electricity grid despite their low efficiency and amid a growing power deficit, a senior manager at the country’s largest thermal power producer said on Monday.
Ismaeil Namazi, the head of the production technical office of the state-owned Thermal Power Plants Holding Co. (TPPHC) said TPPs churned out a record high of 193mn megawatt hours (MWh) in the first half of the current Persian calendar year (March 20 - September 21), IRNA reported.
According to Ismail Namazi, the figure represents a 2% increase compared to the same period a year earlier.
With nearly 210 power plants in 29 provinces, the TPPHC is responsible for operating and developing the stations and facilitating private sector participation in thermal electricity production.
Namazi pointed out that TPPs generated 50,000 MW of power per day during the peak summer months.
He stopped short of providing any further information about the total daily power output. However, Energy Ministry officials already stated that this summer’s scorching temperatures pushed electricity consumption to an all-time high of 80,000 MW per day.
The above-mentioned figures indicate that TPPs remain the largest suppliers of electricity with a contribution of around 63%.
Namazi also noted that daily thermal power output hit a high of 1.19mn MWh on August 24 amid an unprecedented heatwave.
The mismatch between power generation and consumption peaked at 18,000 MW this summer on the hottest days, which is expected to surge to 26,000 MW per day next summer.
Experts estimate that at least $20bn is needed in investment to rein in the shortfall.