With the synchronization of 11 gas and steam units with the national grid in thermal power stations across the country, the capacity of Iran's thermal power plants has reached 71,000 megawatts, director of planning at the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company said.
“Close to 2,500 megawatts have been added to the national grid over the last six months to help meet rising demand in summer,” Barq News also quoted Abdolrasoul Pishahang as saying.
Giving a breakdown, he said gas units of Hengam Power Plant in Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, Pasargad Power Station on Qeshm Island and Mianroud in Dezful, Khuzestan Province, Aryan Power Plant in Zanjan Province and Iran LNG Power Plant in Kangan County, Bushehr Province, have become operational during the period to add 1,000 MW to the network.
The steam units in Jahrom Power Plant in Fars Province, Harris and Urmia Power Stations in East and West Azarbaijan provinces, Chabahar Power Plant in Sistan-Baluchestan Province and Besat Power Station in Asalouyeh in Bushehr Province have added 1,500 megawatts to Iran’s thermal power generation capacity.
“So far, 598 steam and gas units have been built in 129 thermal power plants in the country,” he said.
The nationwide project to overhaul thermal power plants to improve their output was completed in May and all stations are fully operational.
Pishahang noted that 67% of the total capacity of thermal power plants in the country are owned by the private sector.
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 to meet rising demand and help prevent power outages during the summer 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.
State-run Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company has signed a contract with farmers and industry owners, based on which the latter is obliged to shift consumption from on-peak to off-peak periods.
“If they [industrialists and farmers] fulfill their commitment, there will no blackouts this summer because consumption will fall by at least 6,000 megawatts,” the official said.
Network load reached 60,000 megawatts during peak hours last week and is expected to exceed 61 gigawatts soon.
The number of electricity meters reached 37 million with 1 million new consumers having joined the grid since 2019.
“Thermal power stations account for 85% of total power generation in Iran (71 GW) and enhancing the efficiency of such infrastructure at regular intervals is crucial,” Pishahang said, adding that by the end of the current year (March 2023), the efficiency of thermal power plants will increase by 1% to reach 39%.
