Mohsen Tarztalab, head of Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), said on Tuesday that the country’s renewable power capacity had surged to 2,555 megawatts, marking a 43% year-on-year increase — the fastest growth in the country’s history.“In the first six months of the Iranian calendar year (began on March 21), the total capacity of renewables reached 2,555 MW, including over 2,000 MW from solar, 400 MW from wind, and 100 MW from other sources,” Tarztalab said at the opening ceremony of the 7th Iran Solar Power Plants Conference in Tehran, as reported by IRNA.“This represents a 43% rise compared with the same period last year — an unprecedented growth in Iran’s power industry.”During the same period last year, total renewable capacity stood at about 1,786 MW. Despite the sharp increase, renewables still account for only 2.7% of Iran’s total electricity generation capacity of around 95,000 MW.Under the Seventh National Development Plan, Iran aims to add 12,000 MW of new renewable capacity over five years, with President Masoud Pezeshkian’s administration having set a more ambitious goal of 30,000 MW within four years.The deputy energy minister said, “The average monthly growth in renewable capacity during the past six months was about 140 MW, and it is planned to reach 800 MW by December. We hope to achieve this target with the cooperation of industry leaders and investors.”However, speaking on the sidelines of the two-day conference, he noted that, “The administrative and industrial sectors have not performed as expected in building solar power plants.”Gov’t offices’ renewable share doubles to 40%“As recently approved by the Supreme Energy Council, the share of government offices in renewable power supply has increased from 20% to 40%,” he added.“I strongly recommend that both administrative and industrial sectors move toward constructing solar, wind, and battery power plants to generate their own electricity. Waiting for others to act will only harm their own interests.”The government had granted all administrative departments a deadline — effective June 21 — to source 20% of their required electricity from solar energy. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: IRAN DAILY