Iraq Launches 755 MW Solar Tender

• Iraq's Ministry of Electricity has invited proposals for solar power development in the country
• The tender seeks to have 755 MW of solar power capacity installed in the country by the end of 2020
• It comprises 2 big projects with 300 MW and 225 MW capacity which will come up in the provinces of Karbala and Babel, respectively
• Another 50 MW will be in Diwaniyah province, 2x50 MW in Wasit, and 2 projects of 50 MW and 30 MW in Al-Muthanna

The Ministry of Electricity in Iraq has issued a tender targeting 755 MW of power capacity in the first round of investment projects from solar PV technology. All power contracted through this auction will need to be connected to the grid by the end of 2020, according to media reports.

The project capacities will be established in five provinces:

• 225 MW in Babel,
• 2 x 50 MW in Wasit,
• 300 MW in Karbala,
• 2 x 50 MW and 30 MW in Al-Muthanna, and
• 50 MW in Diwaniyah.

The ministry said it will provide logistical, technical and legal services for other sites in southern and western parts of the country in the next stage.

There is very limited presence of solar panels in the country that has been ravaged by wars. According to the Iraq Energy Outlook report of April 2019 by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Iraq has the potential to deploy 21 GW of solar PV and 5 GW of wind power capacity by 2030, which would ensure it achieves 30% renewables share in its electricity supply by the target year (see IEA Recommends Iraq To Aim For 21 GW Solar).

In November 2018, non-profit Atmosfair launched a 300 kW solar power system with energy storage commissioned for 8,500 people in Northern Iraq's Mam Rashan refugee camp, which is being maintained by Germany's Greentech GmbH (see 300 kW PV+Storage System Online In Iraq).