Increasing the efficiency of power plants is one of the priorities of the Energy Ministry as construction of new power plants is much more expensive than raising the efficiency of the current operating stations, managing director of Iran's Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company (Tavanir) said.
“By improving efficiency the rate of power wastage decreases,” ISNA quoted Mohammad Hassan Motevalizadeh as saying.
Boosting infrastructure, adopting modern power production technology and converting conventional plants into efficient combined-cycle units are among measures that the Energy Ministry has taken to enhance the efficiency of power stations and as a result, power loss in the network has reduced by 5% in the past years, the official added.
Motevalizadeh said there are two ways to add to power output: one is to construct power plants and the other to improve efficiency and reduce loss. “The latter makes a lot of sense.”
He said “about $250 million has been spent on plans to increase power stations efficiency over the last few years,” he said, noting that decreasing power wastage means more electricity for consumers.
He did not clarify what amount of electricity has been added to the network by enhancing efficiency in the past years, but stated that if new power plants were to be built it would cost $2.5 billion, which was 10 times more than what has been spent.
Power plants' efficiency is near 38.58%, yet as per the Sixth Five-Year Development Plan (2017-22), it is expected to reach 40%.
Under regulations outlined by the Energy Ministry, all new power plants must have an efficiency of 58% and above.
Gas-turbine engines are critical to the operation of power plants. Gas turbines are air-breathing machines whose power output depends on air mass through the compressor.
Ambient temperature, altitude and humidity affect the density of air that is why on hot days, when air is less dense, power output falls. Domestically-manufactured fan blades (to function in high temperatures) have been installed on turbines’ compressors of some power plants to help reduce the temperature in the engine and raise turbine output.
Depending on the gas turbine, this translates into a power output reduction of 5 to 10%.
The method will be used in all thermal power plants at an estimated cost of $120 million and raise production by at least 2,000 megawatts. Total electricity production in Iran is 84,000.
