An overview of renewable energies in Iran

Iran as a major oil producing country has increasingly paid attention to the non-fossil energy resources, in particular to renewable energy sources for its longer term energy plans. In this regard, 11 projects pertaining to solar energy are being utilized or carried out by Iran׳s Ministry of Energy. The total photovoltaic power installed in 2004 was 14,020 MW. This rate reached 67 MW by the end of 2010. Further, two geothermal projects are being constructed in Ardabil Province at present. By the end of 2010, the Meshkinshahr geothermal power plant project revealed a progress rate equal to 50%. Similarly, the package construction project in Ardabil revealed a 32% progress. Due to financial hardship in the Fourth Development Program, the completion of these projects was extended to the end of the Fifth Development Program. The nameplate power of biogas power plants in Iran is 1.860 MW the total installed capacity is 1.665 MW. According to Strategy Document of Fuel Cell Technology Development (Approved by the government in 2004), Iran has revealed good progress in fuel cell projects. Private sectors have already signed contracts to build more than 600 MW of biomass systems and 500 MW of new wind energy developments. The nominal power of the wind parks that can be erected in the available sites with remarkable wind potential in Iran is approximately 6500 MW, employing wind turbines of 60,000 MW nominal power. The estimated mean annual capacity factor of these wind parks is 33%.