 Iran plans new renewable energy plants: ministerJan 18, 2010 - Stanley Carvalho - Jason Benha - Reuters - Scientific American ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Opec member Iran plans to develop new renewable energy power plants over the next five years with capacity totaling 2,000 megawatts (MW) to meet energy demand, its deputy minister for electricity said on Sunday. Abbas Aliabadi said Iran already has 8500 MW hydro power plants in operation and has installed 130 MW of wind turbines. "Iran, though an oil exporting country, is determined to be an important partner in global efforts of human societies to achieve sustainable energy systems," he told a preparatory meeting of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) where even Israel was participating. "The government of Iran has paved the way for private sector participation in developing renewable energy systems," he said. The private sector has already signed contracts to install wind turbines as well as biomass systems with capacity of 600 MW and the ministry of energy is implementing 500 MW wind converters in the country, he said without naming any company. (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho, editing by Jason Benham) 
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