Currently, 20% to 30% of Kurdistan Region’s electricity is generated from solar energy
Efforts are being intensified in the Kurdistan Region to focus more on renewable energy, particularly solar energy. Significant steps have already been taken. On May 18, 2023, the foundation stone for a new solar-powered electricity generation station was laid. The Ministry of Electricity of the Kurdistan Regional Government announced, “This will be the largest solar-powered electricity station in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.”
The government stated that this station will have a production capacity of 25 megawatts of electricity, be equipped with numerous solar panels, and will be located in the village of Minara, near Erbil. This environmentally friendly station will connect the electricity it generates to the national grid.
Currently, 20% to 30% of electricity in the Kurdistan Region is produced using solar energy. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) aims to increase this percentage and has initiated similar projects to achieve this goal.
There are currently two solar power stations in the Kurdistan Region, with a total production capacity of 3 megawatts. This comes as the government has decided to construct another solar-powered electricity generation station with a budget of 235 billion IQD and a production capacity of 100 megawatts in the autonomous administration of Soran.
During its tenure, the ninth cabinet of the KRG has taken major steps to protect the environment and reduce the negative impacts of fossil fuel-based power plants.
Dr. Rawa Mohammed Amin, Head of the Renewable Energy Department at the Ministry of Electricity, told The Kurdish Globe: “The Ministry has signed three memorandums of understanding to establish three solar power stations with a total production capacity of 350 megawatts. The government has made significant efforts to expand the use of renewable energy, with plans to increase solar electricity production by 3,000 megawatts over the next ten years.”
Dr. Amin emphasized that these agreements are part of the Kurdistan Region’s broader strategy to embrace renewable energy sources and address the growing electricity demand.
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has also commented on solar energy development in the region, stating that several international companies have expressed their readiness to support the Kurdistan Region in this field.
In a statement on his official Facebook account, the Prime Minister wrote, “Over the past three years, we have completed our largest flare gas project for electricity production with a capacity of 165 megawatts. We are also working on solar energy projects and have tendered three 25-megawatt solar energy facilities.”
PM Barzani further added, “I urged Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, to provide technical support and training for the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in the energy sector.”
The Kurdish Globe