Solar Energy Technology Development and Implementation on a National and Regional level
A delegation of 5 senior faculty members from the University of Kashan, along with the director of the university's Development Council, were sent to China on an academic and exploratory visit. Dr. Mohammad Nazififard, a faculty member of the Energy Research Institute, stated that the purpose of the visit was to meet with leading Chinese holding companies that are pioneers in photovoltaic technology and have cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities for solar power plant equipment. He emphasized that the development of photovoltaic technologies in Iran can be achieved through internal development, utilizing the growing capabilities of universities, advanced research centers, and the active cooperation of early adopters of this technology in knowledge-based companies in Iran.
Dr. Nazififard also highlighted Iran's significant advantage in the field of Solar PV energy due to its ideal irradiation and climatic conditions, which place it among the top locations in the world for PV power generation, alongside the California high deserts and Nepal. He added that all the materials for solar panel production are available locally, and with proper technology development, the entire production cycle can be carried out with high quality in Iran.
Furthermore, Dr. Nazififard noted that this visit targeted the largest company in the world that manufactures the entire chain of solar panels, from wafer to glass, using core technology developed in-house over several decades. This company has the capacity to produce over one gigawatt of monocrystalline solar panels annually, using proprietary equipment developed and customized for high quality and efficiency.
The delegation from the University of Kashan successfully negotiated joint research and development projects with Chinese conglomerates and aimed to expand existing relationships with affiliated companies in the holding group. Additionally, visiting researchers from the University of Kashan will have the opportunity to visit the company's facilities and collaborate on manufacturing crystalline silicon cells and multi-connectivity technology with their research and development sections.
It is worth noting that due to the rapidly growing market in Iran and the government's support for renewable energies, localization and commercialization of technologies for solar equipment production, as well as the education of creative and knowledgeable experts for research and development, are of great importance and priority for the proper growth of this valuable technology in Iran.