Gradual power loss reduction in the distribution and transmission networks nationwide has helped the state-run Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company’s (Tavanir) save $2.5 billion in repair and maintenance costs in the past seven years, head of the company said.
“Electricity wastage has reduced 5.3% compared to 2014 when it was 15%,” Mohammad Hassan Motavalizadeh said, IRNA reported.
Substituting ageing equipment, lines, utility posts, cables and electric meters and fighting illegal use (theft) were among measures adopted by Tavanir to minimize the loss, he said.
Referring to the positive trend over seven years, he said wastage in the grid decreased to 12% in 2015 and the descending order has since continued reaching 11.7%, 11.2%, 10.7%, 10.4% and 9.7% in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.
“The 0.7% decline in 2020 (compared to the previous year) helped save 500 million cubic meters of natural gas in the power stations and prevented the emission of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide.”
However, power loss in Iran is still high (close to 6,000 megawatts a day) but still than in Brazil, Turkey, Hungary, India and Croatia.
Iran ranks seventh in terms of power wastage in the world. Iraq (50.6%), India (19.4), Pakistan (17.4%), Brazil (15.8), Turkey (14.8), Mexico (13.7%) are the top six.
According to Tavanir, $500 million is required to cut electricity waste to less than 9.7% -- the levels in Portugal and Spain.
Power waste in China, the US, France, Italy, England, South Africa and Canada is as low as 5.5%, 5.9%, 6.4%, 6.7%, 8.3%, 8.4% and 8.9%, respectively.
Global average power loss is around 8.3%, still a far cry for Iran.
Ageing equipment and theft are the two chief causes of power loss. Transmission and distribution losses include loss in transmission between sources of supply and points of distribution and distribution to consumers, including pilferage.
Transmission lines help the movement of electricity from one or more power stations to substations and distribution lines carry electricity from a substation to end consumers.
Electricity is usually sold from large power plants via extensive networks and rugged terrain. Transmission over long distances creates power loss hurting the balance sheets of utilities in Iran long saddled with the costly subsidies to consumers ordered by the state.
The Energy Ministry has said it has plans to reduce electricity wastage to 9% by 2022.
Losses from the transmission and distribution of electricity through inefficient networks mean that additional electricity must be generated to service the same level of demand.
According to the International Energy Agency, losses in power grids worldwide resulted in around 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide emissions in 2018.
Options to reduce these losses include replacing transformers and power lines, and optimizing the reactive power profile. Investments in smart grids would facilitate further CO2 emissions reductions by reducing load peaks, load shifting, facilitating the integration of renewables generation, supporting the adoption of electric vehicles and improving energy efficiency.
