Iran's renewable capacity has risen from 1,250 MW to about 5,800 MW, with a 12,000 MW target for year end

The deputy energy minister and head of Iran's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization (SATBA) said on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, during a visit to solar plants in western Golestan province, that about 4,500 MW of new capacity has been added to the national grid since the current government took office, and that renewable capacity has risen from 1,250 MW to about 5,800 MW.

Mohsen Tarzatalab added that under current plans the figure will reach 7,000 MW by the end of Shahrivar 1405 (22 September 2026) and 12,000 MW by the end of the Iranian year (20 March 2027), and that meeting the target depends on securing the necessary financing. He said a privately built solar plant in Gonbad-e Kavus is in its final construction stages, with part of its capacity to be connected to the national grid within 20 days and all of it by 11 September, and about 140 people currently working on the project. He said limited financing has reduced the scope to pay loans simultaneously to all applicants for rooftop solar, and that SATBA is pursuing low interest lending through a project fund.

The head of Golestan's power distribution company said about 4 MW of a 19 MW provincial plant is connected, that a 25 MW plant at Aq Qala is not yet operational because of sanctions related constraints and delays in bringing in foreign technical experts, and that some 150 MW of new capacity is planned for the Mazandaran and Golestan regional grid.