Z. Molamohamadi - Department of Industrial Engineering, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
M.R. Talaei - Iranian Solar Energy Scientific Society.

This paper aims to analyze and identify the most appropriate strategies to deploy solar energy in Iran. For this purpose, in a comprehensive framework of strategy development, the internal and external factors of general and specific environment were determined. Then, four different strategies, including aggressive (strong expansion and development), conservative (maintaining, internal protection), competitive (maintaining, external protection), and defensive strategies (withdrawal, reduction of costs, ceasing on investment, joining another corporation), were considered using internal-external and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) matrices. According to the numerical results of the internal and external factor evaluations, which are ۲.۷۴ and ۳.۰۶ respectively, the aggressive strategies would be acceptable for Iran. However, since the location of these values in the internal-external matrix is close to the conservative cell, the effective strategy for the present condition of our country is a combination of aggressive and conservative strategies.

solar energy, sustainability, SWOT Analysis, PESTEL analysis, renewable energy policies