Iran renewable energy conference:
Pezeshkian outlines plans for gas-electricity replacement in heating
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian underlined the necessity of replacing gas with electricity for heating purposes in the country during an international conference on renewable energy in Tehran on Saturday.
Addressing the 9th International Iran Renewable Energy Conference (REC), Pezeshkian doubled down on Iran’s push to swap gas for electricity in heating systems during his keynote, reaffirming the government’s firm commitment to comprehensive clean energy development, calling it “the clear path forward for the nation.”
“Across all dimensions — including the production and import of solar panels, upgrading power plants, revamping cooling and heating appliance production lines, and construction engineering — precise and actionable plans are underway,” he said.
Pezeshkian outlined the government’s strategy to expand renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and nuclear power, noting, “Progress on this path has already begun and is being pursued rigorously through daily and weekly cabinet meetings.”
He stressed that success in this field requires broad participation from elites, investors, policymakers, and parliamentary representatives, adding, “The government is determined to resolve existing imbalances by leveraging domestic capabilities and collective wisdom.”
Inviting citizens to collaborate on energy management, Pezeshkian said, “Just as the public cooperated by economizing gas in winter, we expect them to assist this summer by reducing electricity use. Replacing high-consumption chandeliers with efficient lighting is a critical step in this effort.”
The international event, attended by the president on Saturday, honored leading investors, industrial producers, public and municipal organizations, EPS service providers, academics, young researchers, and top regional and distribution electricity companies for their contributions to renewable energy.
Solar plant capacity doubles in seven months
Addressing the event, Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi highlighted achievements in renewable energy, announcing, “Solar power plant capacity has nearly doubled over the past seven months.”
Citing the global shift toward clean energy, he noted, “The international energy market is rapidly moving toward renewable sources. The growing installed capacity of solar and wind energy, alongside declining costs, signals a paradigm shift.”
Aliabadi underscored the importance of energy storage technology, stating, “This innovation enhances energy utilization and grid stability.” He also revealed that the Energy Ministry had launched a specialized research program on green hydrogen, describing it as “a forward-looking solution for Iran’s energy policies.”
Renewable daily output hits 1,710 MW
Meanwhile, Mohsen Tarztalab, head of Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization, announced that renewable capacity has reached 1,710 megawatts, with 514 megawatts added since President Pezeshkian’s administration took office in July.
“The capacity developed under this government is 42% higher than previous administrations,” he said, adding, “Over the past two decades, annual renewable capacity growth was below 50 megawatts, but under the current administration, 50 megawatts are added monthly.”
Tarztalab confirmed plans to increase renewable capacity by 50 megawatts weekly, with nationwide workshops for constructing renewable power plants set to launch in the coming weeks. He also announced a 79% rise in solar energy production capacity and said the construction of 3,000 megawatts of renewable projects will begin within two months.
Regarding the ongoing projects, he stated, “Work on 1,300 megawatts of farm-based power plants has commenced and will become operational by the end of this year. Additionally, the construction of Iran’s first foreign-funded solar power plant will start this month.”