05 Development of Solar Energy Technologies in Iran: SWOT and DEMATEL Methods

Iran is the second Middle Eastern country endowed with fossil energy resources. Beside abundant conventional sources of energy, like oil and natural gas, the country is blessed with large renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, etc. However, Iran’s trend of the development of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar energy has not aligned with global trends.This paper analyze the factors affecting the development of solar energy technologies in Iran with SWOT and DEMATEL methods. Accordingly, at First, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of solar energy technologies in Iran were identified and then using DEMATEL, influence and impact indicators in the SWOT matrix have been evaluated. Based on the findings, the most important factors affecting the underdevelopment for these technologies are: subsidized prices of fossil fuels, lack of understanding of the necessity of renewable energy development by politicians, lack of motives for entering the private sector, lack of effective policies and provision of adequate incentives by government