Electricity in Iran in 2024
As of 2024, the electricity landscape in Iran is predominantly fueled by fossil energy, making up over 92% of its electricity generation. A significant part of this comes from natural gas, which alone accounts for about 80% of the total electricity generation. In stark contrast, low-carbon energy sources contribute less than 8% to the country's electricity mix. Among these clean sources, hydropower is the major player with more than half of the low-carbon share, generating around 5.6% of the total electricity. Nuclear power generates a modest share of nearly 2%, highlighting the vast potential for growth in Iran’s low-carbon electricity generation.
Suggestions
To elevate its low-carbon electricity generation, Iran can learn from countries that have successfully integrated sustainable energy sources, particularly nuclear power, into their energy mix. For instance, countries like Slovakia, where nuclear power contributes over 60% of electricity, and Ukraine, with over 55% coming from nuclear, demonstrate the benefits of robust nuclear programs. Iran can also look at its geographical neighbor, Armenia, which generates 30% of its electricity from nuclear power. Considering wind and solar energy, Iran can draw lessons from Denmark, where wind power supplies over half of the electricity, and Lebanon, which generates nearly a third from solar. By adopting policies that support the expansion of nuclear, wind, and solar power, Iran could substantially reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and reap the benefits of a cleaner, more sustainable electricity system.
History
Historically, the journey of low-carbon electricity in Iran has seen fluctuations, particularly in hydropower generation. In the early 1990s, there were both incrementals and declines, with notable growth in 1992 but a decrease by 1994. The most significant recent shifts occurred in 2019 when hydropower remarkably surged by 24 TWh but then faced substantial declines, particularly in 2020 and 2021. In contrast, nuclear electricity generation marked a positive trend, especially in 2013 and 2016, with noticeable growth in these years. Unfortunately, 2021 saw a decline of 2.8 TWh in nuclear generation, an event that underscores the need to strengthen and stabilize this sector to ensure consistent growth in low-carbon electricity. Iran's focus should be on fortifying its nuclear infrastructure to prevent such setbacks and enhance its green energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.