RoydadNaft –  Kerman province has solidified its position as Iran’s undisputed leader in solar energy development, with more than 8,000 megawatts of solar power plants already permitted, land allocated, and in various stages of construction, Governor-General Mohammad Ali Talebi announced on Tuesday.

Speaking to IRNA, Talebi said the south-eastern province far outpaces the rest of the country in rolling out large-scale photovoltaic projects, capitalising on its vast deserts and high solar irradiation.

Despite the impressive pipeline, Talebi highlighted persistent hurdles in the public sector. “We have lagged behind in government-backed installations because of legal constraints and chronic budget shortages at state agencies,” he said, noting that current electricity costs in Kerman remain higher than in many other provinces despite the region’s natural advantages.

Nationwide momentum is also building. Mehdi Goodarzi, executive secretary of Iran’s 7th Solar Power Plants Conference, told IRNA last month that renewable capacity has surged to an all-time high of 2,550 MW, driven by last year’s acute power shortages and supportive policies under the 14th administration.

Goodarzi predicted the boom will only accelerate over the next four years as major investors and smaller applicants alike rush to capitalise on feed-in tariffs and the goals laid out in the Seventh National Development Plan.

With Kerman alone accounting for a staggering share of the project pipeline, the province is poised to play a pivotal role in Iran’s push to diversify its energy mix and ease chronic summer blackouts through clean, home-grown power.