A new generation of power stations is being constructed on the Caspian coast, where the accumulation of garbage is high, in order to produce electrical energy from waste, Mehr news agency reported.
To this end, waste-to-energy (WtE) plants have been built in Kahrizak, Sari, Noshahr and Tonekabon with a capacity of three megawatts (MW) each, as well as a five MW plant in Rasht, Gilan. To attract private investors the energy ministry has increased the price of electricity produced by WtE units to 4,400 rials ($0.16), and has guaranteed its purchase.
Thermochemical and biochemical methods are globally used to destroy garbage, Akbar Shabani-Nia, head of research at Renewable Energy Organization of Iran (SUNA) said, adding that digester and landfill methods were utilized in Iran.
Iran, for the first time, acquired the plasma technology required to convert hospital, nuclear and infected wastes into electricity. Currently 15 percent of power stations' capacity, which is approximately 10,600 MW, belongs to hydroelectricity, Shabani-Nia said. The majority of hydroelectricity stations are built in southern parts of the country.
Further, electricity generation from wastewater has commenced in several refineries and will be expanded in the near future, Javad Nasiri, director of biomass department at SUNA said last week.
"A five megawatt (MW) power plant has been established in Tehran's main refinery in the south and another 2 MW plant is under construction."
Incineration plants, also known as WtE plants, are dedicated to the thermal treatment of wastes with or without recovery of the combustion heat generated.
Iran has the capacity to generate more than 10,000 MW of electricity via biomass, with 25 cities in the country capable to generate at least 400 MW of electricity from waste material, according to Nasiri. Close to 20 million tons of waste are produced every year in Iran on average, and 100 tons of waste is enough to run a two MW power plant every day.
Hamid Chitchian, the energy minister, also pointed out to the WtE plans during a meeting with Adnan Amin, director general of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Tehran.
Cheap Electricity
Iran's electricity is the cheapest among neighboring countries, deputy energy minister was quoted by Mehr as saying. Every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity is sold 2 cents in Iran, whereas it is sold 10 cents per kWh in neighboring countries. This is because "energy is less converted in Iran's power stations," Houshang Falahatian said.
Falahatian also elaborated on transferring ownership of electricity distribution companies. He said that the matter will be assessed at the Economic Commission of the government. It has been already discussed during several meetings held at the Privatization Company.
