Over one billion barrels equivalent of crude oil are wasted annually in Iran's energy supply chain. This statistic indicates significant waste in the production, conversion, and transmission of energy in the country, and in a situation where the country faces serious challenges in energy supply, this issue becomes even more critical.
Energy Waste in Power Plants
According to reports, the average efficiency of Iran's thermal power plants is only about 33 to 37 percent. This means that out of every 100 units of input gas, only 33 to 37 units are converted into electricity, while the rest is wasted as heat. This waste in power plants signifies the loss of energy that could have been used for heating homes or supplying electricity to industries.
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One proposed solution to reduce energy waste in power plants is to convert old gas power plants into combined cycle power plants. This method utilizes the waste heat from the gas turbine to generate more electricity without consuming a proportionally greater amount of fuel.
Energy Waste in Gas Transmission Networks
Problems in the gas transmission network also exacerbate this issue. Aging equipment, gas leaks, and high gas consumption at pressure boosting stations are among the factors that cause energy waste. Additionally, lost gases due to leaks and unauthorized connections are not accurately recorded in the network's accounting.
In oil fields, large flares are lit that burn associated gas. This gas can be collected and utilized, but without the necessary investment for its collection, it is simply wasted and causes air pollution. In refineries, part of the energy is used to keep equipment warm, while significant reductions in this consumption can be achieved through modernizing furnaces and recovering heat.
Ultimately, some electrical energy is also lost on its way to the consumer. Worn-out wires and transformers and distribution network issues lead to the loss of some of the generated electricity. Although the share of this section is less compared to the waste from power plants, these losses still put significant pressure on the network.
Reports emphasize that to solve these problems, attention must be paid to investment, equipment modernization, and comprehensive management in the energy chain. These measures alone can help optimize energy consumption, and in a situation where people are asked to reduce their consumption, it is also necessary to address energy waste in the country's facilities and networks.
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