First phase of Iran’s largest solar plant goes online
Energy Minister Ali Abbas Aliabadi announced on Friday the inauguration of the first phase of the country’s largest solar power plant in Markazi Province, as the total national electricity generation capacity surpassed 100,000 megawatts
The 130-megawatt phase of the Kaveh Methanol solar facility is now ready for connection to the national grid following completion of panel installation, power transmission infrastructure and technical testing, according to project officials cited by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), ILNA reported.
The project aims to expand renewable energy sources, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen the stability of Iran's power grid.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Aliabadi said Iran operates a diverse mix of power generation facilities, with hydropower plants forming a significant portion of capacity. Conditions at hydropower facilities have improved this year compared to last year, he added, without providing further details.
Aliabadi also outlined plans to expand smart meter deployment and crack down on unauthorized cryptocurrency mining to manage grid stability. Around 7 million smart meters have been installed nationwide so far, with a target of exceeding 10 million by the end of the Iranian year (March 21, 2027), he said.
"These devices enable active management of electricity consumption by high-demand users and allow us to prevent excessive power use by these consumers to maintain grid stability," the ministry’s website, moe.gov.ir, quoted Aliabadi as saying.
Last week, Aliabadi said that the country currently had no deficit in electricity generation capacity but needed to reach a level this year that would allow it to manage peak demand, adding that the entire power system should be aligned with that objective.
"The most important policy of the new period at the Energy Ministry is to control consumption growth and move toward reducing energy use," he said on Monday.
According to the ministry, electricity demand was expected to rise "by more than 5% this year," after Iran's peak electricity consumption hovered around 79,000 megawatts last summer, as authorities focus on curbing rising consumption and expanding renewable capacity.
The Kavah Methanol solar plant, executed by the private sector, was built in a high-potential area of Markazi Province in center of Iran and utilizes modern solar power technology to enable clean electricity generation on most days of the year.
Officials said that with completion of future phases, the facility could become Iran's largest solar power plant and play a significant role in diversifying the country's clean energy portfolio. The project has also created direct and indirect employment opportunities for local and specialized workers in the region, they added.
Markazi Province, with its favorable climate and high number of sunny days annually, is among Iran's most suitable regions for solar power development, and implementation of such projects could represent an important step toward sustainable energy development in the country.
According to SATBA officials overseeing private-sector execution of solar projects, joint efforts by the private sector and government will raise Iran's solar power capacity from 4,500 megawatts to more than 11,000 megawatts by autumn this year, accelerating clean energy production, ISNA reported.
The expansion comes as President Masoud Pezeshkian's government aims to install 30,000 MW of renewable energy capacity over the next three years amid an expected power shortfall next year.