With the synchronization of the second steam unit of the Urmia Combined Cycle Power Station with the grid, the capacity of Iran's thermal power plants has reached 70,000 megawatts, the head of Iran's Thermal Power Plants Holding Company said.
“Since September, about 1,000 MW of new steam and gas units have been connected to the national electricity network. They include the gas units of Hengam and Iran LNG power plants and the steam units of Jahrom, Harris and Urmia power stations,” Mohsen Tarztalab was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal Paven.
“So far, 587 steam and gas units have been built in 129 thermal power plants in the country,” he said, adding that with the launch of the Urmia Power Plant, the number of thermal units owned by the private sector and industries has reached 383 units, with a total capacity of more than 47,000 MW.
Tarztalab noted that 67% of the total capacity of thermal power plants in the country are owned by the private sector.
According to the Energy Ministry’s plan, by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2022), by constructing new units and upgrading the existing units, the capacity of the country's thermal power plants will increase by about 1,500 MW.
Iran’s total electricity generation capacity has surpassed 84,000 MW and another 6,000 MW planned by the Energy Ministry will be added to the current capacity by next summer to meet rising demand and help prevent power outages during the hot season when consumption rises.
The planned capacity includes 4,500 MW of thermal power plants and 500 MW of renewable power stations. An additional 1,000 MW will also be generated by upgrading the operating plants.
The renewable stations will be of different types, including solar, wind and biomass plants. Iran’s first geothermal power station will become operational by March 2022 in Meshkinshahr in Ardabil Province.
