Two large solar farms with a total capacity of 631 megawatts are under construction in Fars Province, the deputy governor of the province for Economic Affairs Coordination said.
“The construction of two solar power plants by Iranian experts and engineers are underway in Abadeh and Bavanat counties,” IRNA also quoted Zafar Afshoun as saying.
“The projects are being carried out by Merat International Group in cooperation with foreign investors,” he added, without naming the foreign sides.
The two photovoltaic stations are expected to complete in two years at $691 million.
“Being Iran’s largest solar power stations, the two farms will provide about 6,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction process,” Afshoun said.
In addition to creating jobs, the farms, when operational, will help supply power to households and industries in the region.
“More than 1.7 million solar panels will be used in the two projects. About 30% of the panels and inverters will be imported from European countries and the rest will be manufactured by domestic companies,” he said.
Chehrak Plain in Bavanat County will host one of the farms with a 431-MW capacity.
Bavanat is 231 km north of the provincial capital Shiraz and has a suitable capacity for generating renewable energy, especially solar.
The other farm is located in Abadeh County, 276 km north of Shiraz. It will have production capacity of 200 MW.
Merat International Group is an Iranian enterprise involved in various sectors, namely construction, energy, renewables, agriculture, R&D and commercial services.
Renewable energy capacity in the southern Fars Province is over 84 MW. There are 10 large solar power plants, 1 wind power station, 2 hydropower plants, one biomass plant and 331 small PV stations (rooftop solar panels) in Fars.
Using solar energy is effective in reducing pollution and costs. Thermal power plants, which generate 80% of electricity in Iran, are seen as a major source of air pollution due to the greenhouse gasses and are also costly.
Of the total 86,000 MW power production capacity, less than 1,000 MW are generated by renewables.
However, the government, with the help of the private sector, is taking measures to boost green energy and one of the goals is to move toward non-fossil fuels and renewables.
More than 100 large plants produce renewable energy in Iran, 43% are solar, 41% wind-powered, 13% hydropower, 2% heat recovery and 1% biomass.
According to the Energy Ministry, green sector investment in Iran has surpassed $1.5 billion and created 20,000 jobs.
Renewables contribute to sustainable socioeconomic growth, boosting global gross domestic product growth by 1%, employing close to 29 million people and generating a 15% increase in welfare, mainly through health benefits from reduced air pollution, according to the latest analysis by the International Renewable Energy Agency.
IRENA’s annual Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021 shows renewable energy’s share of all new generating capacity rose considerably for the second year in a row.
More than 80% of all new electricity capacity added last year was renewable, with solar and wind accounting for 91% of new renewables. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 260 GW of renewable energy capacity were added globally in 2020.
