Power generation in Iran’s thermal power plants has exceeded 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours per day, said a deputy manager at Iran's Thermal Power Plants Holding Company.
“The total output of 130 thermal power stations has surpassed 110 billion kWh since the beginning of the current fiscal year [March 21],” Nasser Eskandari was also quoted as saying by the Energy Ministry’s news service.
Thermal power generation reached a peak of 1.160 billion kWh on July 3, the highest ever recorded in Iran’s electricity sector, he added.
The official said thermal power facilities account for 93% of Iran’s total power demand in summer, but when demand falls, the figure declines to 80%.
Thanks to timely repair and maintenance of thermal facilities, all units (including gas, steam and combined-cycle) are operational and working at full capacity.
Upgrading, repair and maintenance of thermal power plants added 700 MW to the total output.
“Overhaul starts every year in September and ends in April of the following year. This year, 583 gas and steam units in 130 power plants were overhauled before the demand peaked in June,” he said.
According to Eskandari, an estimated 359 billion kilowatt-hours of power were produced in Iran in 2021, of which 91% were generated in thermal power stations.
“Of the total output [359 billion kWh], close to 326 billion kWh were produced by thermal [steam, gas and combined-cycle] power stations, indicating an 8% rise compared to a year ago,” he added.
Giving a breakdown, the official said that of the 326 billion kWh, steam-powered plants, gas-powered stations and combined-cycle plants generated 84 billion kWh, 59 billion kWh and 183 billion kWh respectively in the 12-month period.
Hydropower plants, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in southern Iran, distributed generation stations and renewables constitute the rest of the production.