Iran To Establish At Least One Solar Park In Each Province

The head of Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization, SATBA, has stated that his organization intends to establish at least a solar park in every province in partnership with Iran Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization or ISIPO.

IRIB reported that Mahmoud Kamani stated the necessary permits had been issued by the government for some parks, and the first works on one park in Qazvin Province have begun.

The SATBA chief announced last month that 110,000 solar power stations with a five-kilowatt (KW) capacity would be built for low-income families in the current Iranian year (which began on March 21).

Kamani announced also that the tender to build solar power plants with a capacity of 2,200 megawatts will also be held this year. This is a leftover from the previous year’s plan to construct solar power stations of 4,000 megawatts.

The official stated that the plan to build renewable power plants had been announced by the Minister of Energy at the start of the 13th Government. In 1401 (the past Iranian Year), all the preparations needed for its implementation were made and certain measures were taken.

Early February, an official announced that Iran’s renewable energy plants had reached a capacity of 1,020 Megawatts (MW), with the 10-MW Pasargad Solar Farm in Damghan going into operation.

Kamani, who made the remarks at the opening of the solar farms in Damghan County in central Semnan Province, said that the power plant had a unique feature, as it could generate electricity by reflecting sunlight. This feature increases its efficiency by 40%.

The head of SATBA said, “It’s hoped that we can implement the 10,000-MW program by setting up additional renewable power plants”.

Hydropower and other renewables account for about 7% of total energy production in the country, while natural gas accounts for 90%.