Habibollah Bitaraf added that in addition to using 7,600 MW hydropower within next five years, Iran intends to increase production of renewable energies including wind and solar energies by 500 MW. “Iran has also taken effective measures in this regard including switching power plants fuel from liquid to natural gas, commissioning 4,412 MW hydropower, building about 20 MW windmills and solar plants as well as extensive research on renewable energies,” he noted. Bitaraf said new energies projects could only be economic if their cost equaled that of other energies. “Based on current projections use of renewable energies excluding hydropower will not account for a major share of global energy for several decades to come because of economic considerations,” he noted. The international conference on renewable energies in Bonn, Germany, was attended by more than 70 ministers from energy sectors of various countries and over 2,500 energy experts from 113 countries. The event started 4 days ago and wrapped up today.