Iranian Gov’t to Cooperate with Knowledge-Based Firms to Indigenize Renewable Energy Equipment

Controlling the quality of imported equipment and adapting the international standards with the conditions in Iran to increase the lifespan and reduce maintenance costs, and using the capacity of knowledge-based companies for domestic production of solar, wind, and energy storage equipment are among the measures adopted by the Iranian Vice-Presidency for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy to support the renewable energy sector.

The first phase of five laboratories in the solar (module, inverter, cable) and wind (equipment calibration) fields is due to be launched by the end of the year.

The next phases will be the launch of solar cell and battery laboratories.

In case of success, the share of domestic production of renewable equipment will increase over the next 5 years and this will enable Iran to become a hub for the production of clean energy equipment suitable for the climate of the Middle East.

In relevant remarks in April, Iranian Vice-President for Science, Technology and Knowledge-Based Economy Hossein Afshin had underlined efforts to produce 30,000 MW of solar energy relying on domestic capability and indigenization and development of silicon chain technology.

At the first meeting of the Renewable Energy Council of Iran, which was held in the presence of the First Vice-President, the Head of the Environmental Protection Organization, and the Head of the National Standards Organization, Afshin presented a report on the prospects for solar energy in the next 10 years, the use of rooftop solar energy, the pursuit of the 30,000 MW target for solar energy in the 14th government, and indigenization and development of silicon chain technology.

Also, an official of the Renewable Energy and Electricity Efficiency Organization of Iran elaborated on the organization's activities, and announced a program for developing solar power production systems and chains in the industrial sector, establishing and expanding the capacity of solar energy-related manufacturing plants, supporting indigenization and domestic manufacturing in the Ministry of Energy, and signing memoranda of understanding with universities.

The head of Iran’s specialized training group of renewable energies and electricity efficiency announced last year that potentials existed in the country to supply materials needed for production of solar panels.

“Due to the existence of mines with a total capacity of 80 million tons of silicon materials across the country, Iran can become one of the key players in production of the main sources for making solar panels,” said Behrouz Dashti.

“Of course, in addition to silicon mines to build solar power plants, other main and important equipment like solar inverters, structures, cables, etc. are also needed and we need a lot of infrastructure that should be created and developed in the country over time,” he added.

Dashti also announced compilation of the document of the national technology development program for the value chain of silicon-based solar power generation systems to determine the tasks of different institutions to produce 8,000 megawatts of solar power in the next five years.

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