Mohammad Bahrami Seyf Abad, a member of the Energy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, pointed to the challenges of gas and electricity imbalance in different seasons of the year and stressed the necessity of focusing on renewable energies. He referred to the development of solar and wind power plants as a strategic obligation in the Seventh Development Plan and said: "Today, the perspective on renewable energies should no longer be marginal."
The Necessity of Developing Solar Power Plants
Bahrami, referring to the severe limitations of hydrocarbon fuels and their environmental costs, introduced solar energy as a powerful means for energy production and a reliable alternative for supplying the country's electricity. He added that the nominal capacity of renewable energies in the country has now surpassed 6,000 megawatts, with the share of solar power plants alone exceeding 5,400 megawatts (over 90 percent).
Challenges of Investment in Renewable Energy Sector
Bahrami further pointed to the obstacles facing economic actors in the renewable energy sector and said: "Private investors will enter this field when they can predict the future of their investments." He identified currency fluctuations, lengthy processes for order registration and customs clearance of equipment, and uncertainties in connecting to the grid as the biggest obstacles and risks for investment.
He also called for the facilitation of regulatory and financial processes by the Ministry of Energy and SATBA and reminded that new support packages from these entities could help reduce the economic risks of projects. Bahrami emphasized that investors should not feel uncertainty and that the execution stages until commissioning should be managed properly.
The Need to Focus on Wind Capacity
Bahrami also referred to the lag in wind power generation capacity compared to the country's potential and said: "The Ministry of Energy and SATBA must quickly implement a dedicated package for the development of wind projects." He emphasized the importance of developing transmission lines and distribution stations, stating that these actions are essential for achieving renewable energy goals.
In conclusion, he announced the Assembly's readiness to oversee the proper implementation of related laws and stressed the need to transform the development of renewable energies into a sustainable economic flow, saying: "The Assembly will not retreat from its oversight role until the full establishment of the legal capacities of the Seventh Development Plan in this area."
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