The construction of solar plants and wind farms to generate 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy has started across Iran and it will be completed in four years, the spokesman of Iran's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization said.
“Of the total figure, 7,000 MW will come from solar power plants and 3,000 MW through wind farms,” Jafar Mohammadnejad Sigaroudi was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal.
Referring to the construction of 550,000 solar systems in the underdeveloped regions of the country, the spokesman said a memorandum of understanding has been signed by five government departments in this regard to supply renewable energy in the next four years to the deprived families.
As per the plan, each solar station will have a power production capacity of 5 kilowatts and the government guarantees to buy the electricity generated in the solar farms at a fixed price of 22,000 rials ($0.07) per kilowatt hour.
The scheme will help empower low-income households in poor regions, especially those dependent on government benefits.
The five government departments contributing to the scheme are the Energy Ministry, the presidential department on rural development, State Welfare Organization, Imam Khomeini Relief Committee and Construction Basij.
Avoiding the use of fossil fuels, helping preserve the environment, saving water consumption, ending deprivation, supporting domestic construction, creating employment and developing clean energy are among the advantages of the program.
Solar radiation in Iran is estimated to be about 1,800 to 2,200 kilowatt-hour per cubic meter annually, which is higher than the global average.
Studies show renewable investments in Iran are profitable. Therefore, the Energy Ministry plans to raise annual renewable energy output to 5,000 MW in four years with the participation of private companies.
There are currently 7,000 solar power stations of different sizes operating in the country.
Renewables, including solar and wind sources, account for around 1% of the total electricity generation capacity of about 90 gigawatts in the country.
Renewable energy is the least expensive option for improving access to electricity, reducing air pollution and cutting CO2 emissions. It also contributes to sustainable socioeconomic growth, boosts global gross domestic product growth by 1%, employs close to 29 million people and generates a 15% increase in welfare, mainly through health benefits from reduced air pollution, based on a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency.
According to the Energy Ministry data, solar and wind account for 48% and 36% of the domestic renewable power production respectively.
Small-scale hydroelectric plants, waste-to-energy plants and biomass factories constitute 13%, 2% and 1% of the total renewable output, respectively.
Renewables can help transform unsustainable production and consumption patterns, protect biodiversity, reverse deforestation and combat land degradation.
Investment by private firms in the sector has surpassed $1.1 billion, mostly for solar power production.
The development of renewables will help address the problems of generating electricity by thermal power plants.
While thermal power stations require fossil fuel as feedstock and water for cooling purposes and also pollute the environment, renewables are eco-friendly and require neither fuel nor water, nor do they emit greenhouse gas.
