Manjil Wind Farm in Gilan Province (with 171 wind turbines) has generated close to 75,000 megawatt-hours of electricity since the beginning of the current fiscal year on March 21, a deputy manager of the provincial power company said.
“Of the total production, 50% were generated between May 22 and Aug. 22, when wind speed rises and averages just above 20 kilometers per hour,” Mohsen Babazadeh was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news service.
“Harnessing wind energy will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, as it cuts electricity generation from thermal power plants using natural gas and other fossil fuels [such as mazut],” he said.
“Wind energy does not produce waste or contaminate water – a major issue given the water crisis in the country.”
The official said unlike fossil fuels and nuclear power plants, wind energy has one of the lowest water-consumption footprints, which makes it vital for conserving hydrological resources that are depleting rapidly in Iran.
Wind power is among the most efficient technology to produce electricity in a safe and environmentally-sustainable way: it is zero emission, local, inexhaustible, competitive and creates jobs.
More than 200 wind turbines are operational in Gilan, Khorasan Razavi, East Azarbaijan and Qazvin provinces.
Manjil has taken precedence over other regions, as it produced more than 90,000 megawatt-hours of electricity in 2020.
Wind energy is produced in 79 countries, of which 24 have an installed capacity of more than 1,000 MW each. In terms of megawatt accumulation, the five main markets are China, the US, Germany, Spain and India.
Referring to power generation in the province, Babazadeh said in addition to the wind power plant, nine other power stations generate 2,500 MW. A large part of power (2,000 MW) is generated in Parehsar and Gilan combined-cycle power stations and the rest from hydroelectric and cogeneration units.
Gilan Province's second combined heat and power plant became operational in Bandar Anzali Free Trade Zone last month.
Built at a cost of $11 million, the small-scale station with 25 MW capacity was completed in less than two years with the help of a private firm, Caspian Power Plant Generator Company.
The plant supplies Anzali FTZ with stable power and given its 55% efficiency rate it can support the Rasht electricity power grid during peak demand, he added.
Gilan lies along the Caspian Sea in northern Iran. It gets the highest annual rainfall in Iran – 4.5 times above national and 1.2 times above global average. This has helped the growth of lush greenery and dense forests that give the province a unique status and biodiversity.
