TEHRAN - The electricity output of Iran’s hydroelectric power plants reached 4,750 gigawatt hours (GWh) in the first six months of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-September 22), 80 percent more than the figure for last year’s same period, IRNA reported.

According to Vahid Izadi, the deputy head of Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company (IWPCO), by carrying out timely maintenance of power plant units and the management of reservoirs of the operating dams, the power plants have had the maximum production capacity for the summer peak period.

Izadi noted that the overhaul operations for the country’s hydropower plants have currently started to make them ready for the next peak consumption period.

According to the latest data provided by the Energy Ministry, currently, 55 hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 12,169 megawatts (MW) are operating across the country.

The mentioned power plants every year generate 27,696 GWh of electricity on average.

Based on the provided data, 16 of the mentioned 55 power plants are located in the Caspian Sea basin, while 25 are located adjacent to the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, one is near Urmia Lake, and finally, 13 are located in central Iran.

Currently, 17 new hydroelectric power plants with a total capacity of 3,517 MW are also being constructed across the country, according to the Energy Ministry.

Iran’s current power generation capacity stands at about 90 GW of which the share of hydroelectric power stands at nearly 16 percent.

Most of Iran’s power generation capacity is supplied by thermal power plants. Currently, combined cycle power plants account for the biggest share of the country’s total power generation capacity followed by gas power plants.

Increasing the country’s power generation capacity and preventing blackouts during peak consumption periods have been among the Iranian Energy Ministry’s top priorities since the current government administration took office in 2021.

EF/MA