Iran’s Energy Ministry predicts a 4,000-megawatt reduction in power generation during the approaching summer peak consumption hours compared to that of last summer, as chronic water crisis will affect power production, especially in hydropower plants.
According to ISNA, projections show that hydropower plants’ electricity output will not go higher than 6,000 MW this summer while the figure stood at 9,300 MW during the last summer.
The power generation reduction, coupled with the normal rise in consumption, will result in about 4,000 MW of electricity shortage during the current year’s peak consumption hours.
The country is experiencing the worst water year (started Sept. 23, 2017) in terms of precipitation in the past 50 years.
According to data from the Energy Ministry, the average Iranian uses 250 liters of water per day, while per capita water consumption in metropolises such as Tehran exceeds 400 liters.
More than 80% of the water utilized in industries are consumed in domestic power plants.
Electricity is crucial for all industrial activities and they can halt due to water and, by extension, electricity shortage.
Over the years, water scarcity has caused difficulties for the functioning of power stations in which cooling towers are employed.
Power plants across the country boil water to create steam, which then spins turbines to generate electricity. Once steam has passed through a turbine, it goes to cooling towers to be cooled back into water before it can be reused to produce more electricity.
While annual growth in electricity consumption stood at 7% in the last fiscal year (ended March 20), estimates indicate it will reach 8% in the current fiscal.
During the last fiscal, the country's power production exceeded 55,000 MW.
While national electricity demand exceeds production in summer, people experience occasional outages during the season.
Iran's power demand hit a historic high of 55,400 MW in July 2017, up from about 53,000 MW in the fiscal 2016.
Iran’s peak load is predicted to hit 57,000 MW in the coming summer, which can only be handled if effective measures are taken by the ministry.
The Energy Ministry is currently building power plants nationwide, with a combined production capacity of 3,500 MW, which are planned to go on stream before the onset of summer.
In addition, the ministry aims to reduce air-conditioners’ power consumption by 30% with minor modifications in the devices. Cooling systems are a major source of consumption in the hot summer days.
