BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 25. Iran has simplified
the licensing process for investors in solar power plants, while
also streamlining infrastructure development and reducing the time
required to establish new facilities, according to an energy
official.
The announcement was made by Ali Ghassaminejad, an official of
the Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency Organization of Iran,
who said the changes were implemented in cooperation with the
Ministry of Energy of Iran and the Ministry of Industry, Mine and
Trade of Iran.
He said the agencies have expanded coordination under a
framework that establishes special zones and industrial parks
dedicated to solar power projects, helping streamline investment
procedures.
Ghassaminejad said bureaucratic obstacles related to licensing,
land allocation and grid connection were addressed as part of the
reform process. Under the new model, infrastructure — including
electricity grid connections — is prepared in advance within
designated solar zones.
As a result, both individual and corporate investors can apply
directly to industrial parks or the renewable energy organization
to obtain permits more quickly and begin construction.
He said the initiative was first introduced on a pilot basis in
solar parks in Qazvin, South Khorasan, and Kerman provinces, where
investor demand quickly filled available capacity. Lower land costs
and pre-built infrastructure were cited as key factors behind the
strong interest.
Under an agreement between the energy and industry ministries,
land allocated for solar projects is being offered to investors at
minimal cost along with supporting services, he said.
Iran has been working in recent years to expand solar capacity
as part of efforts to address electricity shortages during peak
summer demand.
As of April 20, Iran’s installed solar power generation capacity
stood at 4.07 gigawatts, while total solar electricity generation
reached 7.13 gigawatt-hours, according to official figures.
