Middle EastDeploying building-scale clean energy for cities is a great way to decarbonize their energy supply and emission reductions. In addition, solar energy in cities combats climate change. So, many local governments around the world have switched to solar energy to power office buildings.
Mashhad Municipality generates 888 MWh of electrical energy annually by installing solar panels on the rooftops of its 21 buildings. The produced energy is connected to the local utility distribution grid.
Mashhad has about 300 sunny days throughout the year. As a result, the city's geographical location, the second-largest Iranian city, is suitable for using solar energy to generate electricity.
"The municipality has tried to install its photovoltaic power stations in visible places to encourage people to plan a home renewable energy system," said Seyed Abdullah Arjaei, Mashhad's mayor.
"The municipality has been used from the capacity of local contractors and producers to roll out solar panels and totally has spent $235 thousand," he added.
Recently, the Iranian government has required some institutions and organizations to obtain at least 20% of their energy consumption from renewable energy sources.
Notably, Mashhad Municipality also won the National Award for Energy Management of Iran in June 2021.
Mashhad is the capital of Khorasan Razavi province, northeastern Iran. The city is the place of the holy shrine of Imam al-Rida, the eighth imam in Twelver Shiʿism, and millions of Shias around the world travel annually to Mashhad.
