Does Iraq need solar energy?

Iraq has abundant untapped solar resources that could allow it to achieve its target and reduce reliance on imports of electricity. Additionally, the cost of electricity powered by solar energy is lower than that of oil- or gas-fired energy.

Do solar panels adorn homes in Iraq?

In the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan, solar panels adorn most homes, part of a small but growing effort to harness the sun’s energy in Iraq. (AFP) The tranquil silence of Hazar Merd is striking in a country where the roar of large neighborhood generators used to provide back-up power is ever-present.

Does Iraq have a solar culture?

Iraq lacks a “solar culture”, said Ali al-Ameri, the executive director of Solar Energy Universe, which installs solar infrastructure. This year, however, more people are turning to solar, he said, with his company installing photovoltaic panels at about a dozen sites. “Prices start at $4,500 and can go up to $6,000,” he said.

Will totalenergies build a solar power plant in Iraq?

French energy major TotalEnergies will build a 1-gigawatt solar power plant in Iraq as part of a cluster of contracts it was awarded in 2021 for an integrated project that entails a total investment of $27 billion over 30 years.

How much solar capacity will Iraq have by 2030?

Iraq’s solar plans announced in November 2021 call for the addition of 12 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2030. Some 7.5 gigawatts of the planned solar capacity are to come from utility-scale solar plants, and Iraq has reached agreements with developers – at varying stages – for projects that will add 4.5 gigawatts of the total.

How much solar power does Iraq have in 2023?

According to the latest statistics by the International Renewable Energy Agency, it had just 1,599 megawatts of renewable energy capacity at the end of 2023. Iraq has abundant untapped solar resources that could allow it to achieve its target and reduce reliance on imports of electricity.