Iraq's Minister for Electricity Adel Karim has reportedly said the country plans to award as much as 5 GW of solar power capacity to domestic and international bidders in the year 2023.
Karim said the government has already finalized contracts with several international firms for a total capacity of 7.5 GW which was part of phase 1 of the ministry's plan to expand renewable energy capacity.
The plan to select bidders for an additional 5 GW solar capacity is aimed at increasing the share of renewables in its electricity mix, as per local media reports.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Iraq's total installed renewable energy capacity was only 1.59 GW till the end of 2021 and a mere 37 MW was from solar PV. One of the world's major oil producers, Iraq is reportedly targeting to achieve 10 GW of solar power capacity by 2030 (see Iraq Targets 10 GW Solar Power Capacity By 2030).
Nonetheless, it is building up a sizeable pipeline having entered agreements with international companies as Masdar, TotalEnergies, PowerChina, Scatec and the like. Global Energy Monitor (GEM) counts Iraq to have a pipeline of utility scale solar and wind capacity of 5.8 GW by 2030 (see 73 GW+ Solar & Wind Projects Planned In MENA).