TEHRAN - Head of Iranian Energy Ministry’s research body, Niroo Research Institute (NRI) has said the institute has prepared a roadmap for the development of the country’s renewable energy sector, IRNA reported on Friday.

Majid Amidpour said although NRI has already taken serious measures for the improvement of the country’s renewable industry over the past few years, the 13th government has taken it a step further by setting very high goals in this regard.

Planning to improve the efficiency of the country’s electricity network by 10,000 megawatts (MW) and establishing up to 12,000 MW capacity of new renewable power plants is an indication of the government’s serious will to develop renewables and increase energy efficiency, Amidpour told IRNA.

“Therefore, the research institute has expanded its activities with the aim of helping to achieve these goals,” he said.

The research institute has taken many steps in the fields of technology development, production chain, and value chain and compiled a road map for their development, the official added.

He further pointed to the close cooperation between NRI and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (known as SATBA), saying that some memorandums of understanding have also been inked between the two sides in this regard.

Renewables, including hydropower, account for about seven percent of Iran’s total power generation, versus natural gas’ 90 percent share.

Based on Iran’s Sixth Five-Year National Development Plan (2016-2021), the country was aiming for a 5,000 MW increase in renewable capacity to meet growing domestic demand and expand its presence in the regional electricity market.

But in the final year of the plan, only one-fifth of the figure was achieved.

Iran was supposed to become a regional hub in the field of energy in the past Iranian calendar decade (March 2011-March 2021), but evidence shows that the country is facing a shortage even in the supply of electricity inside the country, an issue that many believe that could be achieved by developing renewable energy and increasing efficiency of the thermal power plants.

EF/MA