Solar Power for Rural Folks, Nomads

EghtesadOnline: In line with the expansion of renewable electricity, 20,000 small solar power installations will be set up to supply electricity to 20,000 rural and nomad families.

News ID: ۷۴۹۰۳۱

25 November 2019

Domestic companies manufacture the photovoltaic stations and deliver to the relevant organizations for installation, IRNA reported.

In addition to boosting electricity production, construction of the clean energy power plants will also help improve the livelihoods of needy households.

A $3,000 loan will be made for each power station and the Energy Ministry will purchase the generated electricity, according to Financial Tribune.

Each photovoltaic panel of one kilowatt capacity can generate 200 KW in 30 days. The state-owned Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization, (Satba), affiliated to the Energy Ministry, buys each kilowatt for about 5 cents, meaning households selling one kilowatt can earn around $10/month.

A 5KW solar system can produce 1,000 KW a month and households with such rooftop installations can make $50 per month.

Installing a 1KW panel costs $700, thus households need $3,500 for panels with five kilowatt capacity.

There are more than 115 large solar farms in Iran, and 3,500 smaller installations in cities and villages.

Green Expansion Phase

However, of the total 82,000 MW production capacity,  850 MW comes from renewable, but Iran is taking new and effective measures to boost green energy.

Expanding solar farms and rooftop photovoltaic power stations will help create jobs, especially in rural areas, where people are migrating in unusually big numbers due to the water crisis and worsening economic conditions.

Nomad families will be equipped with portable solar power generators so that they can have access to electricity during their journeys.

Solar panels generate enough power to help families meet their needs like charging emergency lights and cell phones and use TV in the deserts and plains.

Technology has created the conditions to help nomads and tribal communities with facilities to ease their daily, often difficult, tasks without interfering in their way of life.

Nomads generally are on the move in search of pasture and water for cattle and set up tents and nurture livestock. They mostly straddle regions in South Khorasan, Fars, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari and Kohgilouyeh-Boyerahmad provinces.

Data show that nomads made up almost one-fourth of Iran's population a century ago. Today there numbers are sorrowfully below 2% of the total population of 80 million.

With more than 300 sunny days in a year, Iran has huge potential to expand solar farm, attract investments and do its fair share in contributing to the global campaign against climate change.