The first phase of a 10-megawatt solar power plant in Damghan County, Semnan Province, is now connected to the national power grid, managing director of Semnan Regional Electricity Company said.
“The solar farm is being constructed by the private sector at a cost of about $1 million. Its first phase is now operational with a capacity of 2 MW,” IRNA also quoted Ali Akbar Sabbagh as saying.
“With the investment of the private sector, several other solar power stations are also under construction in Semnan, and when all become operational, they will add more than 20 MW to the power production capacity of the province,” he added.
With a hot desert climate and more than 300 sunny days, Semnan Province in the northeast has great potential for harnessing solar and wind energy.
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 emission of greenhouse gases, apart from being costly.
If the same volume of electricity generated by a 10-MW solar station in an hour was to be produced in a thermal power plant, close to 3,000 cubic meters of gas would be consumed.
Studies are also underway for the construction of a 50-MW wind power plant in Damghan.
Semnan Province Electric Power Distribution Company has set up over 100 small-scale solar farms for rural homes to help create jobs in the underdeveloped regions and underpin family income, and by extension discourage migration.
Due to tough economic conditions, water crisis, drought and joblessness, people from rural areas have been migrating in unusually big numbers to the cities and in the process creating new problems for urban managers.
Earning From Renewables
Each photovoltaic panel with a capacity of 1 kilowatt can generate 200 KW in 30 days.
The state-owned Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization, (Satba) buys each kilowatt for about 5 cents, meaning households selling one kilowatt can earn around $10 per month.
A 5-KW solar system can produce 1,000 KW per month and households with such a rooftop installation can make $50 per month.
Installing a 1 KW panel costs $700, thus households need $3,500 for panels with a 5-KW capacity.
Homes in small towns wanting to set up rooftop systems are eligible for up to $3,000 in loan from the National Development Fund of Iran.
Of the total 85,000 MW production capacity, less than 1,000 MW come from renewables and the nation is taking effective measures to boost green energy.
The number of private firms producing electricity from renewable sources — mainly wind and solar — has increased in recent years.
Private companies have invested more than $1 billion in the gradually expanding renewable sector, mainly solar and wind. Due to government funding constraints, private firms have been urged to play a bigger role in promoting clean energy.
There are more than 120 large solar farms in Iran and over 3,500 smaller installations in cities and villages. About 2,000 rooftop photovoltaic power units are expected to be set up by next year, mainly in deprived and rural areas.
