150 Companies Expressed Interest in Investing in Solar Energy Projects
Baghdad – INA
The National Team for Renewable Energy Projects announced today, Saturday, its intention to launch ambitious solar energy projects during the summer. While noting that 150 companies have expressed interest in participating in these projects, it revealed that the government is working on solutions to enable citizens to utilize solar energy without additional costs.
Team leader Naseer Karim told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “There is significant support from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for introducing solar energy projects into the Iraqi energy sector, with a focus on controlling consumption management.” He explained that “the new solutions being implemented represent a rapid and smart model for alleviating the electricity crisis.”
He added, “The national team is working to launch projects in the districts and sub-districts of the northern, central, western, southern, and central governorates. It will focus on the use of smart meters and efficient solar energy systems, which will help overcome the challenges of the electricity grid.” He noted that “these projects will not constitute a burden on the Iraqi budget, as they will be implemented according to an investment approach.” He stated that “this vital project includes the energy transformation policy adopted by the Prime Minister, which has already begun at the Government Palace, where consumption has been measured to reach 2.5 megawatts. Meanwhile, a 2-megawatt solar plant is under construction, supported by an additional megawatt, which will cover 80-90 percent of the Government Palace’s solar energy consumption.” He emphasized that “this step represents a clear political message to extend the scope of these policies to all sectors, including government, residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial sectors, which will relieve pressure on the electricity grid and contribute to reducing demand for conventional energy.”
He noted that “Iraq has rich solar resources, making it second only to North African countries in terms of solar fuels, with a capacity of up to 2,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter annually, qualifying it to be one of the most important countries in renewable energy production.” He emphasized that “solar energy production will be located at load centers, which will reduce electricity grid problems such as congestion and damaged transformers. It will also be integrated with smart meters to control consumption for the first time.”