Financial Tribune - Renewable energy can lower demand for natural gas by diversifying energy supplies, a consultant to the Energy Ministry�s Niroo Research Institute said.

�With more renewables less gas will be required to run thermal power plants,� Hamid Chitchian was quoted as saying by IRNA.

Not developing renewable energy projects will inflict harm on natural gas resources because close to 80% of power is generated by gas-powered thermal plants, he added.

Chitchian noted that an estimated 73 billion cubic meters of gas is burnt in power plants annually, which is expected to increase to 100 bcm per year in less than five years.