Iraq to launch 5 GW of solar projects in 2023

Iraq is planning to launch new projects for solar power plants with a total capacity of 5,000 MW in 2023, electricity minister Adel Karim said last week.

Speaking to the local TV channel Iraqia News, Karim said that the Ministry of Electricity has already agreed with local and international companies on the implementation of 7,500 MW of solar projects in the initial stage.

Details about the new projects were not provided.

Among the agreed large-scale solar schemes are three projects totalling 2.75 GW that are expected to be connected to the grid in 2025. These include a 1-GW contract with UAE's renewable energy company Masdar, a pact with TotalEnergies SE (EPA:TTE) for a 1-GWp solar complex and 750 MW of solar capacity to be deployed by Chinese state-owned conglomerate Power Construction Corp of China (Power China).

In recent months, plans have been unveiled for a number of large solar parks across the Arab country such as a 750-MW project in Al Muthanna Province in southern Iraq and an initiative for 150 MW of solar parks in Al Anbar Province. Further solar projects totalling 630 MW will be set up in Al Muthanna to support the energy supply in the province.

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