A total of 5,000 five-kilowatt solar power plants will be installed in Sistan-Baluchestan Province by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2023), managing director of the provincial Electric Power Distribution Company said.
“Each power plant unit is estimated to cost about $4,000. They will be financed by governmental organizations,” Khalil Avaz-Zadeh was quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news portal Paven.
At present, the development of renewable energy is one of the most essential needs of the country, so it is on the government’s agenda to increase electricity production capacity, he added.
According to experts in the field of renewable energy, due to long hours of sunshine and good winds in the region, Sistan-Baluchistan has a great potential for production of clean energy.
Avaz-Zadeh said the export of energy to neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan will also become possible, if more investment is made in the field.
All areas in Sistan-Baluchestan are suitable for producing solar energy, with the northern areas particularly suitable for establishing large wind farms.
Three other regions, namely Mil-Nader, Ramshar and Garaqeh in the province, have been identified for building renewable power farms.
Zones spanning over 10,000- and 150,000-hectares have been designated for the installation of wind turbines in Mil-Nader and Ramshar regions respectively, while 1,000 hectares in Garaqeh have been designated for solar power production.
Floating Solar Farm
The construction of a 7-megawatt floating solar farm in the southeastern city of Zehak in Sistan-Baluchestan is underway.
The renewable venture, worth over $10 million? will be carried out by domestic experts. The floating photovoltaic farm is to be installed on 14 hectares of Chah-Nimeh water reservoirs.
Besides generating electricity, such projects can greatly help prevent water evaporation.
Chah-Nimeh reservoirs are three natural and big cavities in the south of Sistan Plain and 50 kilometers from Zabol. Surplus water from Hirmand River flows into them through a canal. These reservoirs, with a capacity of 700 million cubic meters, equal roughly one-seventh of Hamoun Wetland.
However, 355 million cubic meters evaporate annually from the reservoirs.
In addition to water retention, floating solar plants provide additional water quality benefits, of particular benefit to potable water infrastructure management.
By shading water, floating solar farms also inhibit the growth of water weeds and bacteria. Such plants, which have become increasingly popular in the world, are used to provide electricity to port cities, islands, large industrial sites, oil and gas installations, as well as for desalinating water.
Installed Renewables Capacity About 1%
Around 83% of Iran’s 85,000-MW power output capacity are from thermal plants that burn fossil fuels. In addition, 12,000 MW come from hydroelectric plants and 1,000 MW from the sole nuclear power plant in Bushehr. The installed capacity of all types of renewables is slightly above 1% of the total capacity, at about 1,000 MW.
With more than 300 sunny days throughout the year, well above the likes of the UK with 150 days of sunlight per year on average and with far less intensity, Iran has huge potential to expand solar energy infrastructure and attract foreign investments.
Avoiding the use of fossil fuels, helping preserve the environment, saving water consumption, removing deprivation, supporting domestic construction, creating employment and developing clean energy are among the advantages of using renewables.
Solar radiation in Iran is estimated to be about 1,800 to 2,200 kilowatt-hours per cubic meter annually, which is higher than the global average.
Studies show renewable investments in Iran are profitable. Therefore, the Energy Ministry plans to raise annual renewable energy output to 5,000 MW in four years with the participation of private companies.
There are currently 7,000 solar power stations of different sizes operating in the country.
Investment by private firms in the sector has surpassed $1.1 billion, mostly for solar power production.
To help expand renewable energy in Iran, over $100 million have been earmarked in the budget for the current year.
The development of renewables will help address the problems of generating electricity by thermal power plants.
While thermal power stations require fossil fuel as feedstock and water for cooling purposes and also pollute the environment, renewables are eco-friendly and require neither fuel nor water, nor do they emit greenhouse gas.
