Athos Solar completes construction of two solar parks in Iran
Athos Solar GmbH based in Heidelberg, Germany, has completed two more large-scale photovoltaic systems in Iran. Located in the province of Hamadan, the "Baba Taher" and "Bo 'Ali Sina" power stations each generate up to 8.5 MWp (megawatt-peak). The total investment, which is equivalent to €15 million for the two PV systems, was financed with equity capital from Athos Solar. The company now operates five photovoltaic power stations in Iran producing around 40 MWp and is the largest investor in solar power systems in the country.
"We are proud of the fact that we completed the two new power stations in minimum time without any problems," explained Christian Hamacher, Athos Solar's Country Director for Iran. "We can now rely on a wealth of experience when it comes to processes and local conditions in Iran "“ which is especially beneficial for planning, logistics, and operations." The new solar parks are the fourth and fifth large-scale PV systems built by Athos Solar and connected to the electricity grid in Iran. Since 2016, the Heidelberg-based project developers have built three green-field systems, each producing 7-8 MWp. All five systems are located in the Hamadan region of northwestern Iran.
The new Baba Taher solar park is located near the village of Ebrahimabad in the Famenin district. Named after a poet from the Hamadan region, the system is built on 10 hectares of open grassland and has an output of 8.5 MWp. The power station will produce 16 million kWh of clean energy per year, enough to meet the electricity needs of 20,000 people. Construction was completed in the fourth quarter of 2017. The second new solar park is named after the polymath Bo 'Ali Sina. Completed in the first quarter of 2018, in time for the Iranian New Year festival Nouruz, the system covers ten hectares of grassland near the village of Qahavand and generates 8.5 MWp of power.
Pioneering efforts continue in Iran
"Cooperation with local authorities was very constructive. These two projects demonstrate Iran's keen interest in eco-friendly power and how much the country supports foreign investors", explained Christian Hamacher. The Greencells Group based in Saarbruecken (Germany) provided engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for both stations. Athos Solar invested some €15 million in equity capital for the solar parks. Financing construction projects in Iran with funds from international banks in the West is still not possible.
"The new power stations represent an expansion of our pioneering efforts in Iran," said Christian Hamacher. "They also make an important contribution to increasing the share of renewable energy in Iran. This was confirmed by SATBA, Iran's Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Organization. The anticipated return on investment for the first five solar parks is very good and helps counterbalance geopolitical and currency risks. Of course, we are hoping for stable framework conditions in the Middle East in order to plan and implement further projects." To manage the power stations, Athos Solar recently opened a subsidiary in Tehran.
Caption 1: The solar power station near Ebrahimabad generates 8.5 MWp
Caption 2: Athos Solar converted ten hectares of unused grassland in Qahavand into a solar park
