Iran has 60 hydroelectric power plants that account for 90% of renewable energy generated across the country.
Based on Energy Ministry’s data, Iran’s renewable energy output capacity stands at 14,000 megawatts, of which 12,600 MW come from hydropower, Barg News website reported.
The rest is produced from other renewable sources, including solar panels, wind farms, waste-to-energy power plants and biomass factories.
Hydropower is a renewable energy and its production is cleaner compared to other sources like fossil fuels used in thermal power stations.
Regarding hydroelectric power capacity, Iran is ranked 19th in the world and sixth in Asia. China is first in Asia and the world with 341,000 MW.
Mostly in the coastal regions of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, hydroelectric power plants have an annual energy production of over 30,000 gigawatt hours.
Furthermore, there are 17 hydroelectric power plants under construction. When operational, they will add 3,700 MW to the total hydropower output.
Years of drought and the unprecedented decline in precipitation last year, which was one of the driest in half a century, resulted in a sharp decline in the water level of dams.
The unusually hot summer led to much higher power consumption and, together with hydropower deficit, resulted in shortages and load shedding in some urban areas.
Hydroelectric plants play a key role during power outages because they quickly reestablish supply after a blackout and support other plants (mostly thermal).
