TEHRAN – The electricity generated by Iranian renewable power plants in the seventh Iranian calendar month of Mehr (ended on October 22) increased by 17.4 percent compared to the previous month, IRNA reported.

Based on the latest data released by the Iranian Energy Ministry, the capacity of the country’s renewable power plants also increased by 1.85 percent in the mentioned month as compared to the previous month.

The capacity of wind power plants was 364.89 megawatts (MW) by the end of Mehr. Also, the capacity of solar power plants reached 477.65 MW by the end of the mentioned month.

The capacity of small hydropower plants reached 99.47 MW, while the capacity of biomass power plants reached 12.53 MW at the end of the said month.

Earlier this month, the spokesperson of the Iranian Energy Ministry’s electricity sector said that the necessary preparations have been made for the construction of renewable power plants with a total capacity of 6,900 MW across the country.

Mostafa Rajabi-Mashhadi put the current nominal capacity of the country’s renewable power plants at 1,090 MW, saying that the ministry plans to add 5,400 MW to the capacity of the mentioned power plants across the country over the next Iranian calendar year (begins in late March 2024).

Rajabi-Mashhadi, who is the head of Iran Grid Management Company, expressed hope that with the increase in the share of renewable power plants in the country’s electricity network, the use of fossil fuels will decrease in thermal power plants.

The development of renewable power plants in Iran has accelerated since the current government administration took office in August 2021.

The Energy Ministry in the 13th government has defined new investment packages and strategies to attract more capital to fund new renewable projects across the country.

According to energy experts, such investment models in the 13th government have been a good incentive for investing in this sector.

The mentioned measures led to the capacity of the country’s renewable power plants reaching 1,085 MW, which is a very good figure.

Back in July, Mahmoud Kamani, the head of the country’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), said the capacity of renewable power plants is increasing regularly and daily in the country.

Putting the under-construction power plants into operation will further increase this capacity, Kamani said.

EF/MA