Electricity in Iran in 2024
In 2024, Iran's electricity consumption remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with more than 90% of its electricity generated from these sources, primarily natural gas, which contributes over 85% of its electricity mix. Oil accounts for another 7%, displaying a substantial reliance on non-clean energy. In contrast, low-carbon electricity sources such as hydropower and nuclear make up just under 8% of the total electricity production. Among these, hydropower contributes about 6%, while nuclear energy accounts for roughly 2%. These figures highlight a significant need for Iran to shift focus from fossil fuels to more sustainable, low-carbon electricity sources to address climate change and air pollution effectively.
Data sources used on this page include EIA, Ember and IEA. More about data sources →
Is Electricity Growing in Iran?
While Iran's total electricity consumption has seen a slight increase in 2024, rising from 4226 kWh/person in 2023 to 4245 kWh/person, this growth is marginal. Specifically, this increase of 20 kWh/person represents just a fraction over the historic record, suggesting stagnation in the broader context. Of greater concern is the decline in low-carbon electricity generation. The latest data shows that low-carbon electricity consumption stands at 335 kWh/person, significantly lower than the 2019 record of 477 kWh/person, showing a reduction of 142 kWh/person. This negative trend in low-carbon energy generation is unsettling for sustainable development.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, Iran could look to the successful strategies of regions with strong nuclear and solar representation. For example, countries like France and Slovakia generate more than two-thirds of their electricity from nuclear energy, demonstrating the potential for significant emissions reductions. Iran could also take cues from states like Nevada, where solar energy accounts for a third of their production, or from California, which has made significant advances in utilizing solar energy. Expanding solar and nuclear infrastructure could enable Iran to improve its clean energy output dramatically and decrease reliance on fossil fuels, thereby promoting a more sustainable future.
History
Historically, Iran experienced fluctuations in its low-carbon electricity generation, particularly in the last few decades. From the early 1990s, there was moderate growth in hydroelectric power, with notable expansions in 1992 and the early 2000s. However, significant setbacks followed, especially during 2008 and the early 2020s, with worrying declines in both hydropower and nuclear outputs. A decrease of 13 TWh in hydropower during 2008 was particularly concerning, as was the drop in nuclear electricity by 2.8 TWh in 2021. These declines stress the importance of prioritizing a stable and robust low-carbon strategy, particularly focusing on nuclear and solar, for sustainable electricity growth in Iran.
