The Energy Ministry has proposed a $235 million credit in the 2016-17 budget to support electricity production from renewable energy resources. Speaking on the sidelines of the 15th convention of the Energy Ministry's senior managers in Tehran on Tuesday, Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian added that Iran's power generation from renewables is expected to reach 7,500 megawatts in the coming years, Shana reported. Underscoring the importance of focusing on renewable energies to decrease green gas emissions in the sixth five-year development plan (2016-21), the official hoped that the Majlis would ratify the proposed credit. At present, less than 300 MW or 2% of the country's annual power production come from solar and wind energies, which is not satisfactory The country's diverse climate allows it to exploit natural energy sources for power production, including from geothermal energy in the northwestern Ardabil Province and wind energy in the southeast Sistan-Baluchestan Province. In addition, plans call for raising power output from renewables to 1,000 MW by 2021. To expand renewables infrastructure, Iran has turned to European powerhouse Germany that produces 90,000 MW from renewables.
