Iran’s Renewable Energy and Electricity Efficiency Organisation, known as SATBA, plans to generate 550 megawatts (MW) of electricity per day by developing biomass power plants, Mehr News Agency reported on December 3.

Helia-Sadat Hosseini, the director-general of SATBA’s Biomass Power Plant Development Department, said various types of biomass power plants, particularly landfill gas-to-energy facilities, were proving to be attractive options for investors.

Landfill gas, a natural byproduct of the decomposition of waste, is a form of greenhouse gas that can be used to make energy onsite.

“These facilities can hold their own against other types of power plants in terms of attracting investment and the time it takes to get them up and running,” Hosseini said.

She went on to say that by tapping into the potential of biomass power plants, Iran could churn out 550 MW of electricity per day through the “proper disposal and conversion of waste into energy.”

Hosseini also highlighted that the development of biomass power plants could offer an “ultimate solution” in tackling the pressing issue of waste accumulation, particularly in northern cities.

Official figures indicate that over 58,000 tonnes of waste are created daily in urban and rural areas of Iran, with a large portion being dumped improperly, leading to environmental crises, especially in the north.

In a statement on its website, SATBA noted that biomass power plants can “gobble up” waste to roll out electricity, helping to bridge the gap in Iran’s power supply.

Iran grappled with a daily power deficit of 17,000 MW during the summer peak period, with estimates suggesting that the shortage could surge to 26,000 MW next summer.

The projected shortfall amounts to one-third of Iran’s overall power demand per day.   

Currently, the country produces 1,317 MW of power per day from renewable resources, accounting for a mere 1.4% of its total nominal capacity of 94,000 MW.

Solar and wind farms take the lion’s share of green energy output, with 46% and 28% respectively. Biomass power plants, on the other hand, contribute a relatively modest 22 MW per day, making up just 1.7% of Iran’s clean energy mix.