NEWS MIDDLE EAST ASIA-PACIFIC AFRICA EUROPE AMERICAS SOCIETY ARTS BUSINESS SPORTS

IRAN POLITICS ECONOMY ENERGY NUCLEAR ENERGY CULTURE DEFENSE SPORTS

SHOWS AFRICA TODAY BAZAAR CATS AND DOGS DECISION 2020 ECONOMIC DIVIDE FACE TO FACE FOOD FOR THOUGHT INSIDE ISRAEL IRAN IRAN ART GUIDE IRAN TODAY MIDEASTREAM ON THE NEWS LINE PICTURES THAT SHAKE THE WORLD THE DEBATE THE OTHER SIDE THE SUBCONTINENT TRENDING UNDER REPORTED THE COMMUNIQUÉ WITH RICHARD MEDHURST WE THE PEOPLE 10 MINUTES A SIMPLE QUESTION IRAN TECH IN A NUTSHELL

A first solar cell factory has been launched in Iran amid government efforts to significantly increase the share of renewable in the country’s power mix.

Iran’s Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian opened the 150 megawatts (MW) factory in the central city of Khomein on Thursday as he pledged his full support for the solar industry in the country.

“We are committed in our support for the solar panels and the reneawbles and we are ready to offer all-out support to this industry,” said Mehrabian.

An administrative government in Iran that came to office in August has vowed to launch around 10,000 MW of new renewables capacity in the country within the next four years.

The figure will be a 10-fold increase on the current renewables capacity in Iran as the sector accounts for less than one percent of the total electricity generation capacity in the country.  

A spokesman of the Energy Ministry’s department on renewables said that Mana Energy Pak (MEP Cell) will be able to supply cells for manufacturing 1,500 MW of solar panels per year once the factory reaches its full capacity in the next two years.

Mehrabian said that the expansion of solar sector would make a major progress in the upcoming years with the launch of solar cell factory in Khomein as he added that investment in panel manufacturing has increased in Iran in recent years.

He said Iranian startups have been contributing to the growth of solar sector in the country with provision of technology and know-how needed to manufacture solar cells.

The minister vowed that renewables capacity in Iran would increase by more than 50% until next summer to reach 1,400 MW.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

1. Click the "share" button in the bottom bar

2. Select the "Add to home screen" option

3. Click "Add" at the top

2. Select the "Add to home screen" option