Iran can see a substantial rise in power production from wind by 2021, said the chief executive of the European Wind Energy Association who was in Tehran this week for a conference on renewables.
“Iran’s potential for power production from renewables, particularly wind, is higher than European countries,” ILNA quoted Giles Dickson as saying.
He hoped that adequate investment will be made to promote renewables in Iran.
EWEA coordinates communications, research and analysis and provides services to more than 500 companies operating in the renewables sector in more than 50 countries.
Dickson noted that EWEA will bring major manufacturers of wind turbines in Iran in an effort to significantly boost the country's wind power generation.
“Iran can produce up to six times more electricity from the wind power alone than its production target from all renewable sources combined by 2021,” Dickson said.
Iran plans to add 1,000 MW of clean energy—mostly from solar and wind—each year by 2021 that coincides with the last year of its 6th five-year economic development plan.
In view of the more windy areas in Iran, production costs can be lower than in Europe, according to the official. Dickson stressed that conditions are also suitable for developing solar power in Iran.
According to reports, Iran has more than 300 sunny days in a year, making it an attractive target for investment in solar energy infrastructure.
Around 61,000 MW, or more than 80% of Iran's 75,000-MW output, is generated from thermal plants. In addition, around 12,000 MW comes from hydroelectric plants and 1,000 MW from nuclear power, with only a few hundred megawatts produced from renewables.
No Talks Yet
Seyyed Mohammad Sadeqzadeh, the managing director of the state-affiliated Renewable Energy Organization of Iran (SUNA), said the organization has not held negotiations with foreign companies on their possible role in Iranian renewable projects.
Some domestic firms in the renewables business see their market threatened by the entry of foreign companies who eye lucrative deals with government approval.
This is while officials have often said that the Energy Ministry prefers to empower private Iranian producers of clean energy.
“To develop renewable energy, contracts have been signed with domestic companies who will have the option to partner with foreign companies for financing,” Sadeqzadeh said.
