Power generation capacity increases by 5,000 MW, minister says
The Iranian Minister of Energy announced that over 5,000 megawatts have been added to the country's power generation capacity within the past year (began on March 20, 2024), “encompassing thermal, solar, and small-scale power plants.”
During an unannounced visit by President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Ministry of Energy and Iran's National Electricity Grid Dispatching Center, Abbas Aliabadi also stated that the country's solar power generation capacity has grown by 71% compared to last year, ISNA reported.
Aliabadi presented a report on the latest status of the national power and water networks, emphasizing that, in total, considering thermal, solar, and small-scale power plants, over 5,000 megawatts have been added to the country's power generation capacity over the past year.
According to official figures published on June 1, Iran's nominal electricity generation capacity reached 94,649 megawatts by the end of the first months of the current Iranian calendar year (began on March 20, 2025), nearing the 95,000-megawatt threshold.
Aliabadi reported an unprecedented increase in electricity consumption, the implementation of emergency blackouts, and a significant decrease in Tehran's water resources, stressing the necessity of public cooperation in managing water and electricity consumption.
He stated that the country's electricity consumption in recent days has exceeded 77,000 megawatts, with rising temperatures being the primary cause of this consumption surge." The energy minister added that each degree Celsius increase in temperature imposes hundreds of megawatts of additional load on the grid, placing substantial pressure on the power industry.
According to Aliabadi, the ministry is striving "to increase generation capacity by commissioning new projects and minimize the implementation of emergency blackouts. However, the cooperation of consumers across various sectors and energy conservation remain unavoidable necessities."
"As part of this program, over 87,000 LED lights have been installed in public streets nationwide, resulting in savings of 57.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity."
Aliabadi also pointed to the unbalanced growth between power production and consumption over the past decade, stating, "In the last 10 years, electricity production has increased 13-fold while consumption has risen 23-fold, leading to a grid imbalance." Regarding power generation status, he reported, "Over 102,000 megawatts of power plant maintenance has been successfully completed, and power plants are operational with 98% readiness. This year, the capacity of thermal power plants has also increased by 4,000 megawatts compared to last year."
Noting a 71% increase in solar power capacity and a 5% increase in wind power capacity compared to the previous year, Aliabadi described the future of the renewable power industry as promising.
4,000-MW rise in thermal capacity
Additionally, Naser Eskandari, Deputy of Production Operations at the Thermal Power Plant Company, stated that the capacity of the country's thermal power plants has increased by 4,000 megawatts compared to last year, adding, "During the current hot season, thermal power plants are operating with 98% readiness."
Eskandari expressed his satisfaction with the overall status of the power plants, saying, "This year's power plant maintenance has been completed with appropriate quality, and their general condition is assessed favorably."
According to the official, "Approximately 102,000 megawatts of scheduled maintenance has been fully executed, and power plants are now operating with 98% readiness."