Considering the low output of electricity production units and the destructive environmental damage caused by thermal power plants, the construction of hydroelectric power plants can be more beneficial. In addition to social and economic benefits such as the development of industries and the creation of employment opportunities, hydroelectric power plants have other benefits such as a 100-year or higher life span, low maintenance and operational costs, capability to respond to the electricity network fluctuation in the shortest time possible (maximum five minutes), the use of water resources stored behind dams, the control of destructive floods, and creation of less environmental damage, are some of the other benefits of these power plants.
Hydroelectric power plants play an effective role in controlling the frequency of electricity networks. Considering the menace of frequency fluctuations which exits in the country’s electricity network, the existence of these power plants is beneficial for controlling frequencies.

Attention to policies for reducing the affects of pollutants on the environment and enhancing the country’s engineering capabilities in building hydroelectric power plants in the recent decade, has transformed the use of hydroelectric potentials to the main priority in the development of new power plants. Hydroelectric power plants secure the energy they need to produce electricity from river currents or water transfer canals. There is a potential in Iran to produce 26000 MW of hydroelectric electricity, most of which is produced at the basins of the Karun, Karkhe and Dez rivers.

Iran’s largest river basins with the potential to build hydroelectric power plants and water transfer systems:

The most important river basins of this region include:
A. Karun river basin
B. Karkhe Basin
C. Dez basin
D. Sirvan basin
Diagram on potential of Karun river’s hydroelectric power plant. (Diagram 1) Diagram on potential of Karkhe river’s hydroelectric power plant. (Diagram 2)
Diagram on potential of Dez river’s hydroelectric power plant. (diagram 3)


Water regulation capacity of Karun and Dez 22155 million cubic metres
Water regulation capacity of Karkhe 5916 million cubic metres

Reporter : mehdi akbarsefat

َApproved by : code 28

Create date : 20 May 2008 15:09

Id : 3815

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