Renewable energy, water quality enhancement and wastewater treatment and recycling initiatives were discussed in a meeting between Iran's Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian and the Danish Minister for Energy, Utilities and Climate, Lars Christian Lilleholt in Copenhagen on Friday.
"We held talks with energy officials, most notably the transfer of much-needed technology to expand and develop our renewable power plants," Chitchian was quoted as saying by IRNA.
Referring to measures to tackle environmental degradation and contribution to curb world-wide pollution following the UN climate change talks in Paris (Nov. 30 – Dec. 11, 2015), the minister said Denmark's access to the latest renewable energy know-how can definitely help Iran harness the power of wind and sun to generate electricity.
According to Chitchian, Iran has embarked on several wastewater collection network ventures. Moreover, the country's development in wastewater treatment techniques can pave the way for the two-way collaboration.
Holding talks with Esben Lunde Larsen, the Danish minister for environment and food, Chitchian said, "Iran has been adversely affected by prolonged drought and things take a turn for the worse when more water evaporates as the temperature keeps rising."
Stressing on Iran's precautionary measures against climate change, he noted, "We are willing to import modern technology to maximize the efficiency of our irrigation systems and methods. Cooperation with Denmark will facilitate this process."
Chitchian left Tehran for Copenhagen on Thursday at the invitation of his Danish counterpart. Meetings have been scheduled with Danish private sector energy companies. He will also visit Siemens Wind Power and Vestas Wind Systems factory, a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines, as well as a biomass power plant, where waste is burned to produce steam that runs a turbine to make electricity, or provide heat to industries and homes.
Biomass is a biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. It most often refers to plants, plant-based material or animal waste and is used to create electricity or other forms of power.
Reportedly, Iran has the capacity to generate more than 10,000 megawatts of electricity via biomass, with 25 cities capable of generating at least 400 MW of electricity from waste material.
Biomass is the largest global source of renewable energy. It offers environmental and consumer benefits, including improving forest health, protecting air quality, and offering a dependable renewable energy source.
According to Seyyed Moslem Mousavi , managing director of Iran Renewable Energy Association, Iran’s total installed capacity of renewable energy production in both public and private sectors amounts to 241 MW.
Denmark has considerable sources of oil and natural gas in the North Sea and was ranked 32 in the world among net exporters of crude oil in 2008. A large but decreasing proportion of electricity is produced from coal and nuclear energy imports, while wind turbines supply the equivalent of about 42% of electricity demand by 2015. In February 2011 the Danish government announced the "Energy Strategy 2050" with the aim to be fully independent of fossil fuels by that year.
