Iran’s renewable energy capacity surpasses 1,300 MW
Iran’s renewable energy capacity topped 1,300 megawatts, according to the latest report from the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), as cited by IRNA on Friday.
The Ministry of Energy, under the current administration, has prioritized expanding renewable energy infrastructure and is actively pursuing various initiatives to achieve this goal.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has emphasized the importance of removing barriers to the development of renewable energy, according to the report.
Currently, Iran’s renewable energy portfolio includes solar, wind, small hydropower, expansion turbines, and biomass energy sources. Solar energy leads the mix with 608.03 MW, accounting for 60% of the total. Wind energy follows with 376.3 MW, representing 29%. Small hydropower plants contribute 103.73 MW (8%), biomass plants provide 22.13 MW (2%), and expansion turbines add 9.6 MW, making up 1% of the total.
On November 20, Mohsen Tarztalab, deputy minister of Energy, announced that an additional 3,500 MW of renewable energy capacity would be connected to the national grid by peak demand season next year.
The head of SATBA highlighted the urgent need for accelerated development in the renewable energy sector, stating that the organization is expected to deliver over 30,000 MW in the near term to address the country’s energy imbalance.
Talking to IRNA, Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for the Union of Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Exporters, stressed the importance of prioritizing investment in renewable energy over thermal power plants.
He noted that focusing on renewable energy development is the most effective way to resolve the nation’s electricity supply challenges.
According to the figures by the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, at the end of 2023, about 87% of Iran’s electricity is supplied by natural gas. The participation of renewable sources was less than five percent, with wind and sun having a share of about one percent, while the global average of their participation is higher than 13 percent.
According to the statistics, Iran has 1150 megawatts of renewable power plants, of which 33% are wind turbines, 56% are solar panels, 9% are hydropower (small scale) and 2% are other renewable sources.