Iran and Turkey have started power trade with the help of a high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) back-to-back substation, the spokesman of the electricity sector said.
“The two states are currently exchanging close to 600 megawatts of power on a daily basis, which will double as soon as technical glitches are resolved gradually,” Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi was also quoted as saying by ISNA.
“Cross-border power trade with neighbors, including Azerbaijan, Russia and Turkey, is a top priority of the Energy Ministry, he added.
The spokesman explained that under a new swap deal, Iran will export 600 MW of electricity per day to Turkey in winter and import the same volume when domestic demand soars in summer.
Referring to the advantages of the HVDC system, Rajabi-Mashhadi noted that not only can the voltage and frequency be controlled independently in two networks, but also the power flow is fast, accurate and fully controllable.
The system’s stability also increases, as power flow is maintained within the optimal limits and networks at different frequencies.
According to the Turkish newspaper Daily Sabah, due to torrential rains, most dams in Turkey are full, which explains why electricity generation via hydroelectric dams has maximized, but it is interested in exchanging power.
Iran needs to synchronize its power grid with that of Turkey and Russia because otherwise it will have to invest billions of dollars to build new power stations to bridge the widening gap between supply and demand that has reached 10 gigawatts.
Rajabi-Mashhadi noted that Azerbaijan and Armenia also supply close to 700 MW to Iran under a swap agreement.
For nearly three-fifths of the world population, the lack of access to energy is a major challenge to economic development and poverty reduction.
Increasing cross-border trade in electricity can play a major role in helping overcome these challenges.
Trade in electricity can help bring down energy prices, mitigate power shocks, relieve shortages, facilitate decarbonization and provide incentives for market extension and integration.
Fuel Storage Tanks
According to the spokesman, the Energy Ministry is collaborating with the Oil Ministry to fill the liquid fuel storage tanks of power plants so that they can operate and generate electricity in winter.
Close to 4 billion liters of diesel will be burned in thermal power plants in winter.
“Nearly 2.1 billion liters of diesel have been stored in thermal power stations’ fuel storage tanks and the rest [1.9 billion liters] must be transferred to facilities over the next 30 days,” he said.
Referring to mazut storage, the spokesman noted that estimates show around 3 billion liters of mazut are expected to burn in power stations between December and March.
“If the Oil Ministry fails to fill storage tanks on time, power outages in winter will be inevitable, as thermal power facilities will not be provided with adequate gas,” he said.
Gas consumption in the household sector soars in winter and surpasses 700 million cubic meters per day, but power generation facilities cannot be supplied with enough fuel. Hence, they will have to burn about 7 billion liters of diesel and mazut for four months.
Natural gas deficit is estimated to be around 250 mcm per day that has to be compensated by burning liquid fuels.
“Iran’s natural gas use will reach 950 mcm per day in winter when consumption rises in household, commercial and industrial sectors, as well as power plants,” he said.
Offshore Platforms
Of this amount, 750 million cubic meters of gas will be provided through 37 offshore platforms in the Persian Gulf and the South Pars Gas Field, which account for 70% of the country's gas output.
Stressing that the supply of fuel in the cold months of the year is sufficient, Rajabi-Mashhadi said, “We will have maximum gas production in winter and liquid fuel will be used where needed.”
“The use of liquefied fuels is not economical for power plants. When power stations use liquid fuel instead of gas, their cost of repair increases. Gas has a lower price than liquid fuel. However, sometimes we are forced to use it instead of gas to prevent power outages,” he added.
Total gas production has reached 1 billion cubic meters per day, of which 300 mcm/d are generated by the Iranian Central Oil Fields Company that has three subsidiaries, namely West Oil and Gas Production Company, East Oil and Gas Production Company and South Zagros Oil and Gas Production Company.
