Electric heating, the key to freeing Iran from deadly dependence on domestic gas

According to Energy Press, Iran is one of the largest holders of natural gas reserves in the world, but due to the unbalanced consumption pattern in the domestic and heating sectors, it faces a gas deficit in the cold months of the year. A significant part of gas production is spent on heating homes, and the country’s industries are suffering from the gas shortage.
According to experts, continuing this trend will not only slow down industrial development, but will also cause more air pollution and increase energy costs in the country. Therefore, reforming the consumption pattern and moving towards renewable sources and electricity is an inevitable necessity.
Reducing the share of gas and increasing the share of electricity in domestic heating
In an interview with us, energy expert Hossein Mirafazli emphasizes that the share of gas in domestic heating should be reduced and the share of electricity should be increased. According to him: “In advanced countries, domestic heating is mainly done with electricity, while the cold in Iran is much less than in Europe or North America. So there is no reason for us to remain so dependent on gas.”
Referring to the experience of other countries, Mirafazli continues: “In Saudi Arabia, thousands of megawatts of electricity are stored in power plant batteries and injected into the grid during peak hours. This method is being implemented in many countries around the world, and Iran has no choice but to follow suit.”

The role of solar projects and storage technologies
In another part of the conversation, this energy expert emphasizes the importance of combining solar projects with storage technology: “Solar panels produce electricity during the day, but if this energy is stored in power plant batteries, it can also be used at night. If 20,000 to 30,000 megawatts of solar panels are installed along with power plant batteries in the next few years, its effect on reducing gas consumption and supplying the country with electricity will be significant.”