First smart grid R&D opened in Mashhad to address power shortages
Iran has inaugurated its first smart grid research and development center in northeastern city of Mashhad aimed at improving electricity supply-demand imbalances, a senior official at state power company Tavanir said on Tuesday.
Hamed Ahmadi, head of the technical, engineering and smartification office at Tavanir, said the facility is designed to enhance energy management and promote more efficient electricity consumption across the country.
“The management of smart consumption is one of the pillars of policymaking in the power industry regarding imbalances,” Ahmadi said, according to ISNA.
He said the growing use of smart equipment in daily life has created a new ecosystem in the sector, with smart meters forming a key component. He added that other devices, including smart switches, are expected to be installed in households in the near future to enable more efficient electricity use.
Ahmadi said the new research and development center is equipped with solar power generation units, electric vehicles, energy storage systems and smart home technologies. He added that the facility is connected to all smart components linked to the power grid.
He said one of the center’s key capabilities is simulating electricity sector data through data mining and artificial intelligence, allowing grid operators to make optimized decisions.
Ahmadi said the software and simulation tools used in the center have been developed domestically, adding that Iranian manufacturers are working to localize other advanced equipment in the sector.