Iraq targets 12 GW of renewables by 2030

Iraq, a major oil producer, aims to have 12 GW of renewables generation capacity by the end of the decade, oil minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar told the country's official newspaper Al-Sabaah.

The ministry has already signed contracts for about 2.5 GW of new solar plants, the minister said.

According to him, the Arab country needs to pursue a model to produce the highest rate of energy at the lowest cost in order to have a modern economy.

Renewable energy projects, and solar in particular, are the key to reaching energy security. Substituting gas for oil will also help have cheap electricity and diversified sources, according to Jabbar.

The minister noted that Iraq has potential for renewable energy in vast areas, unlike conventional energy sources which are concentrated only in certain regions.

Based on Jabbar's estimates, the country has a power generation capacity of about 19 GW while demand exceeds 30 GW.

Plans for large-scale solar plants across the country were revealed recently. Last week, Iraq's minister of electricity Adel Karim said that a 750-MW solar park would be set up in the southern Al-Muthanna Governorate to ensure enough power supply in the province. Another 150-MW solar initiative is planned in the country's largest province by area, Al-Anbar Governorate.

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