Iranian Energy Minister Hamid Chitchian has cut the ribbon on a major new wind farm project, as the oil rich country seeks to boost its use of energy from renewable sources.

 

The MAPNA Group this week cut the ribbon on the first phase of its Kahak wind farm boasting 17.5MW of capacity and located in the north-west province of Qazvin, which neighbors Tehran Province.

 

The first phase consists of seven turbines, three of which have already been commissioned and a further four of which are due to be switched on in the coming weeks.

 

But the entire project is expected to deliver 100MW of capacity, using 40 turbines.

 

Dr Abbas Aliabadi, MAPNA Group's managing director, said the rest of the project is expected to come online within the next two years.

 

Aliabadi added that the group is on track to install Iran's first 3.2MW wind turbines in "the very near future".

 

President Hassan Rouhani's government has introduced a range of financial support mechanisms to support the expansion of renewable energy, including the Renewable Energy Deployment Fund, which was launched last year to support a range of technologies, and feed-in tariff incentives for renewable energy generators.

 

Iran is a fossil fuel powerhouse, home to some of the largest oil and gas reserves, however it has been hit by sanctions and a faltering economy that have encouraged the government to increase its focus on alternative clean energy sources.