An estimated 351 billion kilowatt-hours of power were generated in thermal power stations between July 2021 and June 2022, managing director of the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company said.
“The massive output, indicating a 7% growth compared to a year ago, accounted for 95% of total electricity produced in Iran last year,” ISNA also quoted Abdolrasoul Pishahang as saying.
Giving a breakdown, the official said that of the 351 billion kWh, steam-powered plants, gas-powered stations and combined-cycle plants generated 93 billion kWh, 65 billion kWh and 193 billion kWh respectively in the 12-month period.
According to the official, hydropower plants, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, distributed generation stations and renewables constitute the rest of the production.
“Over 125 thermal power stations with around 72 gigawatts of capacity are operational,” he added.
THPCC, a subsidiary of the Energy Ministry, has added 4,500 MW to its output capacity over the period.
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, Mahtab Kavir Power Plant in Zarand County, Kerman Province, and Iran LNG Power Plant in Kangan County, Bushehr Province, have become operational during the period to add 3,000 MW to the network.
The steam units in Jahrom Power Plant in Fars Province, Haris 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 MW to Iran’s thermal power generation capacity.
Plans are underway to add 3 gigawatts to the current production by October.
Liquefied Feedstock
According to the official, thermal power stations need at least 6.5 billion liters of liquefied fuel (diesel and mazut) as feedstock to generate sufficient power between Dec. 22, 2022, and Feb. 22, 2023, when access to natural gas is limited by high household consumption.
“Natural gas consumption will peak in the period and power stations have to use alternative feedstock,” he added.
Because of burning gas between June and September, consumption of mazut and diesel reduced by 30 million liters per day, he added.
Pishahang noted that the construction of the first coal-fired power plant in Iran has registered 80% progress.
Located near the city of Tabas in South Khorasan Province, the power station will produce 650 megawatts and feed on the nearby Mazino Coalmine that holds more than 600 million tons of in-place coal.
Supplying equipment for the new power plant is the responsibility of Iran’s MAPNA Group and China’s Shanghai Electric.
Proponents of the plan argue that building a coal plant makes sense because “it allows Iran to diversify its sources of energy, which now largely comes from thermal plants using gas".
They also claim that the relatively low cost of power generation from coal justifies such a project.
The Tabas power station, under construction in Dasht-e Kavir (the Great Salt Desert) in central Iran, will be equipped with advanced pollution-reduction systems.
Indigenized Equipment
TPPHC has signed at least 40 contracts with domestic manufacturers to indigenize much-needed parts and equipment in the power sector.
As per the agreement worth $30 million, knowledge-based firms have been tasked with producing a wide range of equipment, including turbine blades, retaining rings, rotors and compressors.
Referring to gas turbine blades, Pishahang said, “All the blades, which use high technology and were difficult to import due to the US sanctions, have been made by domestic startups.”
A problem of thermal power plants in Iran is that many have long outlived their usefulness. Power plants built more than half a century ago are still in service, largely due to the government’s inability to replace them under the difficult economic conditions.
“Equipment and parts used in power stations must be repaired or replaced after a certain period,” said Ali Isapour, director general of the Technology and Indigenization of Power Plants Office at TPPHC.
Components made by local companies have been approved by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran.
In addition to upholding national standards, the parts were sent to international institutions for tests and verification.
Isapour said $1 million have been earmarked for R&D projects, including those of universities.
Iran is among the top five countries in power plant construction and manufactures a variety of machineries, turbines, generators and control systems.
