Iran accelerates solar transition and avoids more than 1 million tons of CO₂ per year. FEB 18, 2026

Photo by Mohammad Amirahmadi on Unsplash Free License (Tehran Province, Iran) - Illustrative Photo

Iran accelerates solar transition and avoids more than 1 million tons of CO₂ per year.

Iran is consistently expanding its solar generation capacity, avoiding the emission of more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year and reducing pressure on fossil fuels and water resources.

Data released by the Iranian press indicates that the installed solar energy capacity already reaches about 4.2 gigawatts, representing just over 4% of the national electricity matrix. The expectation is that this number will reach 5 gigawatts by the end of the year, consolidating significant growth in the sector — in the last 18 months alone, solar generation has tripled.

Energy transition in a country dependent on fossil fuels

Historically, Iranian electricity has been generated mainly by thermal power plants fueled by natural gas, diesel, and fuel oil. Although these resources have sustained the country's energy development, they are associated with high greenhouse gas emissions and significant water consumption for cooling.

The expansion of solar energy emerges as a strategic alternative. In addition to not emitting CO₂ during generation, new projects drastically reduce water use — an increasingly critical factor in regions facing water scarcity and extreme weather events.

Official estimates indicate that expanding the solar park could reduce annual natural gas consumption by hundreds of millions of cubic meters, while also decreasing water demand in the electricity sector.

Economic impact and grid stability

The transition also has a socioeconomic dimension. Each megawatt installed in the solar chain generates direct jobs and boosts associated sectors, such as equipment manufacturing, engineering, and maintenance.

Another strategic point is the stability of the electricity grid. Diversifying the energy matrix tends to reduce vulnerabilities associated with demand peaks and fluctuations in the supply of fossil fuels.

A Globally Observed Movement

Iran's solar expansion reflects a worldwide trend of accelerating renewable energy, especially in countries that traditionally depend on fossil fuels. In a scenario of increasing climate pressures and targets linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), energy diversification ceases to be merely an environmental issue and becomes a strategy for economic and climate security.

For the global debate on decarbonization, the Iranian experience reinforces a central point: even economies anchored in hydrocarbons are investing in renewable alternatives—not only due to climate commitments, but also for efficiency, resilience, and energy sovereignty.

The Green Amazon News – International

This text was compiled using public data, scientific reports, and information from meteorological institutions.

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