Renewables, a Solution to End Fuel Oil Use in Iran’s Power Plants

According to Rokna’s economic correspondent, Saeed Tavakoli, Managing Director of the National Iranian Gas Company, stated during the unveiling ceremony of the Crisis Management Vehicle of East Azerbaijan’s Gas Company that during periods of “energy imbalance,” all power plants are forced to burn fuel oil for electricity generation.

Tavakoli explained that between 30 to 34 percent of the country’s gas is allocated to power plants, and if electricity could be generated from renewable sources, gas consumption would be reduced and the power plants would not need to burn fuel oil during winter. More than 80 percent of the fuel used in Iran’s power plants is natural gas, whereas this figure is between 20 to 22 percent in other countries. He stressed that the Ministry of Energy must act through new and rational mechanisms to enhance generation capacity and employ alternative fuels to support environmental preservation.

It is worth noting that in recent years, the country’s energy crisis has led to widespread and repeated blackouts. Meanwhile, the phenomenon of fuel oil burning in power plants during the winter season results in severe air pollution.

As temperatures drop, temperature inversion occurs, one of its main causes being the shortage of energy and the imbalance in electricity production and gas supply to power plants. Some power plants resort to using fuel oil to generate electricity and prevent blackouts.

Last autumn, Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order to halt the burning of approximately 16 million tons of fuel oil in three power plants located in Arak, Karaj, and Isfahan.

Renewable energy sources can play a significant role in reducing fuel oil consumption in power plants. In times of energy imbalance, when supplying gas to power plants becomes challenging, plants are forced to turn to polluting fuels such as fuel oil — a situation that exacerbates air pollution in the winter. If electricity generation from clean sources such as solar and wind increases, dependency on gas and the resulting need to burn fuel oil will decline, leading to less harm to the environment.

It is noteworthy that Abbas Aliabadi, Minister of Energy, during the inauguration ceremony of water and electricity industry projects in the western and southwestern regions of Tehran province, emphasized that by the end of this year, solar power plant projects will be inaugurated on a weekly basis. Comprehensive plans have been developed in this area, and approximately 7,000 megawatts of solar power plants will be added to the national grid. However, in addition to this significant measure, optimal consumption must also be prioritized.

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