Journal of Energy Management and Technology

Journal of Energy Management and Technology

Integrated Modeling of Renewable Energy Systems for power supply optimization and Economic Sustainability

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
2 School of Energy Engineering and Sustainable Resources, Head of Soft Technologies Institute, College of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study examines the integration of renewable energy into Iran's electricity grid to meet growing demand while reducing the environmental burden of fossil fuel generation. A Unit Commitment (UC) model is used to simulate power generation schedules and to calculate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) for each generation technology. In the baseline case, combined cycle, gas, and steam power plants supplied about 91% of Iran's electricity demand, while wind and solar power together contributed less than 0.2%, highlighting the limited role of renewables in the current generation mix. Three scenarios were evaluated: redistribution of 10% of non-renewable capacity to wind and solar, raising the renewable share to 16.11%; meeting a 10% increase in demand through renewable expansion, yielding a combined wind and solar share of 14.9%; and increasing solar and wind capacity to 10 GW each, achieving a total renewable share of 23.52%. The results indicate that an optimal energy mix drawing on Iran's abundant solar and wind resources could reduce dependence on fossil fuels, strengthen grid resilience, and support a more economical and sustainable power system.
Keywords
Subjects

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Volume 10, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 225-237

  • Receive Date 03 December 2025
  • Revise Date 07 August 2026
  • Accept Date 24 August 2026