Recently, Jafar Mohammadi Nejad Sijaroudi, Deputy Director of Investment at Iran’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA), confirmed that the country has issued construction permits for nearly 100 GW of solar power projects.
Sijaroudi stated that renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power play a significant role in meeting part of Iran’s electricity demand. Currently, Iran faces an electricity supply gap of 23,000 to 24,000 MW. While renewable energy cannot fully bridge this gap, it can effectively alleviate the load on the national grid, particularly during peak electricity consumption periods, helping maintain energy balance. He also cited global trends, noting that renewable energy is expected to account for approximately 46% of global electricity generation in 2024.
However, Sijaroudi candidly acknowledged the practical challenges of project implementation. He estimated that only about 15% of the nearly 100 GW of permits issued are likely to be converted into actual installed power generation capacity. Difficulties in financing, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient project execution capabilities remain major bottlenecks hindering project realization.
Notably, Sijaroudi emphasized the development potential of Iran’s renewable energy sector. He mentioned that some countries with fewer natural resource endowments than Iran have made greater progress in this field, indicating that Iran still has significant untapped potential in solar and wind energy development. The large-scale issuance of permits aims to stimulate market vitality through policy guidance and attract more private capital participation in clean energy construction.
