Pasargad solar farm opens in Rey to ease power shortages
Iran on Monday inaugurated the 6-megawatt Pasargad solar power plant in the city of Rey, south of Tehran, a step the government says demonstrates its commitment to addressing electricity shortages and boosting national production through private sector involvement and support from executive agencies.
Speaking to reporters at the inauguration ceremony, Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah described the project as “a symbol of the serious resolve of the government and industrialists to overcome electricity shortages and revitalize national production,” according to the Tasnim news agency.
He added that the development of solar power plants plays a fundamental role in reducing the country’s electricity imbalance.
Noting the ceremonial nature of the plant’s inauguration, he described the power plant as a practical step toward addressing the country’s energy shortages.
Qaempanah said the power plant had already been connected to the national power grid for several months. He explained that in addition to the plant’s current capacity, around 1,500 megawatts of power are under construction through similar initiatives, reflecting Iran’s serious shift toward clean energy.
“Today, across Iran, industrialists and all those dedicated to national development are increasingly turning to solar power,” he said.
At the inauguration ceremony, Hamidreza Azimi, deputy head of Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), said the country’s installed renewable energy capacity has reached 3,500 megawatts, with plans to expand it to 11,000 megawatts by next summer.
Despite recent growth, clean energy sources still account for about 3.6% of Iran’s total electricity generation capacity of approximately 97,909 megawatts.