Iran inks biggest solar plant deal with Italian, Swiss firms

Following earlier agreements with Germany over constructing solar power plants, the country’s largest solar station will be established in cooperation with Swiss and Italian investors.

Accordingly, the solar power house with a production capacity of 30 MW will be designed, built and implemented in North Khorasan Province.

Managing Director of Energy Department of North Khorasan Province Alireza Sabouri said the construction process will officially begin in about four weeks.

“Renewable Energy Organization of Iran has sealed a contract with European firms for building the solar power plant in the Iranian province,” highlighted the official asserting “first phase of the project, with a capacity of 30 MW, will be built in an area of 60 hectares to meet the energy demand of Jajarm alumina plant.”

Sabouri pointed to the need to take maximum advantage of local facilities saying “all the equipment of the solar power plant, except inverters and panels, will be supplied by Iranian producers.”

The official said the price for guaranteed electricity purchase from investors has been escalated by 17% as an incentive policy; “if investors exploit 100% of domestic facilities, a maximum of 30% can be further added to the promised price.”

Sabouri also pointed to the plan to develop solar power plants in North Khorasan underscoring “a Swiss investment company has undertaken construction of plants with an overall capacity of 300 MW which will be gradually put into operation.”