Iran has potential to generate 40,000 MW of solar power and wind energy

Iran has the potentiality to generate 40,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity from solar energy and wind power, according to Iranian Deputy Energy Minister Houshang Falahatian.

There is potentiality to generate 30,000 MW of wind power and 10,000 MW of solar power in the country, the IRNA news agency quoted Falahatian as saying on Monday.

He put the current total electricity generation capacity of solar and wind power plants at 250 MW in the country.

In February, Homayoun Haeri, the managing director of Iran Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution Management Company(TAVANIR), said ten percent of Iran’s need to electricity will be met by solar and wind power plants by the Iranian calendar year of 1400 (March 2021-March 2022).

He added that solar and wind power plants will generate 12,000 MW, equaling ten percent of the country’s need to electricity.

In Decembers 2014, Falahatian said the country prioritized generation of electricity from different sources of energy. He said 1,000 MW of electricity should be generated annually from renewable energies in Iran.

In November 2014, Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian outlined plans to develop the national electricity industry, placing the priority on the expansion of solar and wind power plants.

He said electricity generation, transmission, and distribution are projected to be increased by 7 to 8 percent annually.

Iran has prepared a plan which could increase the efficiency of its power plants to 45 percent from the current 38 percent by 2025.