The first waste-to-energy (WtE) plant will go on stream this year (ending March 2015) with the help of Chinese finance, the managing director of the Renewable Energy Organization of Iran (SUNA) announced.
Currently construction and installation of the three megawatt WtE plants, located in a Southern Tehran suburb, are in their final stages, Mehr news agency reported. Kahrizak WtE plant is capable of incinerating and converting more than 200 tons of waste into electricity per day, Yousef Armoudeli said. There is a national need for energy sources that avoid the use of fossil fuel, and reduce greenhouse gases. Waste-to-energy offers a good alternative, with the ability to deliver on these specifications, while also providing a safe and reliable means of household trash disposal.
Plans are under way to construct an additional four WtE plants on the Caspian coast. WtE plants in Sari, Noshahr, Tonekabon and Rasht are currently in the design stages.
SUNA is negotiating with the Department of Environment (DoE) regarding the location of the Rasht WtE plant, which will be capable of incinerating 500 tons of waste per day, with production capacity of 5-6 MW.
Chinese financers will fund 40 percent of the total cost. Electricity generated through WtE plants will be purchased by the energy ministry, at a price of 4400 rials ($0.16) per kilowatt hour.
The government is trying to diversify its source of energy, by generating electricity from wind, solar, and now WtE plants. It hopes to produce 5,000 megawatts from renewable sources within two years. Laws and incentives have been recently passed to encourage domestic and foreign investment in renewable energy.
