Renewable energy capacity will increase by 3,000 megawatts up until 2021, the energy minister said in a meeting with a visiting German economic delegation.
Reza Ardakanian met Sunday with Sigmar Gabriel, former German foreign minister, and the accompanying delegation including Germany’s Ambassador to Iran Michael Klor-Berchtold along with directors and representatives from small and medium-sized German enterprises, the Energy Ministry news website reported.
Referring to the new sanctions imposed by the US, Ardakanian said: “In the current situation, this meeting conveys a positive message from Germany (which is) to preserve the potential for bilateral economic collaboration. It also holds promise regarding cooperation in the water and electricity sector, especially renewable energy.”
Reza Ardakanian said the meeting conveyed a positive message from Germany that can and should uphold the potential for bilateral economic collaboration, including in the power sector, especially renewable energy
Gabriel pointed to the economic challenges Iran is grappling with and regretted the (poor) economic ties between the two countries that have had relatively normal economic ties for the past four decades.
“Despite the existing difficulties, there is visible interest in bilateral cooperation. I hope this visit will be a turning point in developing two-way economic relations,” Gabriel said, adding that he will follow up the issue of convening the joint German-Iran Economic Commission cooperation.
According to available data, Germany was among the top five exporters to Iran in the first seven months of the current fiscal (began in March).
Solar Power Plant in Qom
The largest solar power plant in Qom Province was inaugurated at the weekend in the presence of Deputy Energy Minister Homayoun Haeri.
Built on a 20-hectare land, the plant can generate 10 MW of electricity. It is the third of its kind equipped with a solar tracking system to save energy.
The project is an undertaking of the private sector and was built at a cost of 10 million euros.
A solar tracking system maximizes electricity production by adjusting the solar panels to follow the sun throughout the day, optimizing the angle at which the panels receive solar radiation. To do so, a stepper motor connected to each solar panel rotates the panel in the direction of the rays of the sun. Solar trackers are typically used for ground-mounted solar panels.
Trackers help panels generate more electricity due to increased direct exposure to solar rays. The increase can be as much as 10% to 25% depending on the geographic location of the tracking system.
Haeri said the Energy Ministry has plans to expand renewable energy production and several renewable power projects are underway in different regions.
Installed electricity output capacity in Iran is 79,000 MW. A large part of electricity is produced by fossil fuel-based power plants. Renewable power capacity is 650 MW.
Deprived Regions
The government is also focusing its efforts to stabilize power supply to the underprivileged regions, namely in the remote rural districts. Energy Ministry data shows almost the entire country (all urban and rural areas) has access to electricity.
According to official data, 57,095 villages across the country are linked to the national grid and electricity for 229 rural areas is generated from renewables. Moreover, in recent years 3,260 nomadic households were provided electricity with the help of portable solar power systems.
In the first half of the current fiscal, 220 solar power stations have been set up in counties in southern Fars Province.
With more than 300 sunny days in a year, Iran has huge potential to expand solar energy production and attract investments.
An estimated 1,500 small and 50 industrial renewable power plants have been built over the past two years.
Wind, solar, hydropower and waste heat recovery account for 45%, 35%, 16% and 2% of the total renewable output respectively. The share of biomass plants is also 2%.
