- Iran pledged at the 29th IRENA meeting to scale renewables, aiming to grow solar and wind while boosting efficiency in homes and industries.
- The government plans to raise renewable capacity to 7,000 MW by March 2026, increasing its share of the power mix from 1.5% to 15%.
Iran reaffirmed its commitment to renewable energy expansion at the 29th meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), outlining new measures to boost solar and wind capacity and improve energy efficiency in residential and industrial sectors.
The two-day council meeting, held on September 11–12 in Abu Dhabi, marked Iran’s first participation in the gathering, which drew more than 400 officials from IRENA’s 169 member states and the European Union. Delegates provided strategic guidance on the agency’s work programme while addressing global challenges in the energy transition.
Iran used the platform to highlight its domestic push toward renewable energy. Jafar Mohammadzadeh, deputy head of investment at the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organisation (SATBA), announced plans to raise capacity to 7,000 megawatts by March 2026, up from the current 1.5% share in the power mix.
“Our goal is to increase renewables to 15% of electricity generation by the end of the 14th government’s term,” Mohammadzadeh told state broadcaster IRIB. He stressed that solar energy, in particular, aligns with Iran’s seasonal demand peaks and offers strong potential for growth.
Mohammadzadeh said the government has accelerated projects, aiming to add 100 MW each week through long-term purchase agreements and attractive investment terms. He said that the Ministry of Industry, Mining, and Trade would support short-term equipment imports to speed up large-scale project delivery.
At the IRENA meeting, members also debated energy security, diversification of supply chains, and next-generation technologies, with a special focus on the solar PV sector. Discussions extended to sustainable aviation fuels, which the agency called critical to decarbonising long-haul aviation.
Iran’s targets and participation in IRENA’s global platform signal its intent to expand renewables rapidly and play a more active role in the global energy transition.