The CEO of the Lavan Oil and Gas Development Group, referring to the changing conditions in the electricity industry, said: "The development of renewable energy is no longer just an environmental policy or an option for diversifying electricity generation sources." According to him, the growth in consumption, fuel limitations for power plants, and the necessity to increase the stability of the grid have made renewables one of the components of the energy security architecture of countries.
Analyzing the Role of Renewables in the Energy System
Jafarzadeh emphasized that renewables should be analyzed within the framework of the entire energy system. He added: "The value of a solar power plant is not just in its installed capacity; the actual electricity delivered to the grid, the fuel saved, and its impact on reducing pressure on thermal power plants are more important criteria." According to him, in the electricity system, installed capacity is not necessarily equivalent to reliable capacity, and solar production has a variable nature.
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Energy Imbalance and Seasonal Challenges
Jafarzadeh, referring to the changing nature of energy imbalance in Iran, stated: "In the past years, the issue of electricity shortages was mainly highlighted in the summer alongside increased consumption, but today, gas supply limitations in winter can also reduce the operational capacity of thermal power plants." He added: "For this reason, energy imbalance has transformed from a primarily summer issue to a broader challenge throughout the year."
Experiences and Requirements for Developing Renewable Energies
Jafarzadeh noted that in the summer, renewables can supply part of the daytime load of the grid, and in winter, every unit of electricity generated from renewable sources reduces the need for thermal production and fuel consumption of power plants. According to him, this is the point where renewables directly enter the architecture of the country's energy security. He emphasized that increasing solar capacity without corresponding development of the grid, substations, transmission lines, and adequate energy storage is insufficient.
Jafarzadeh concluded by saying: "Energy security cannot be built with a single technology. Iran needs a balanced combination of efficient thermal power plants, renewable energies, storage, a robust grid, and demand management. Renewables should be part of the long-term architecture of Iran's energy security, not just a temporary response to the imbalances of recent years."
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