Iraq’s ‘1st’ Large-Scale Solar PV Power Station Moves Forward With EPC Contract

France’s TotalEnergies is moving forward with its 1 GW AC solar power plant in Iraq with the selection of China Energy Engineering Group (Energy China Group) as the EPC contractor.  

The project is to come up in Ratavi region of Basra province in Southern Iraq. Energy China is entrusted with the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the solar project. Once the project is up and running, it is expected to generate 2.9 billion kWh of electricity annually.  

Energy China said construction on site is expected to start at the end of 2024, and the project should be connected to the grid by early-2027. It called the project Iraq’s 1st large-scale solar PV power station.   

TotalEnergies signed an initial agreement with Iraq’s Ministry of Electricity in 2021 to build the 1 GW solar plant along with 3 facilities related to oil and gas. In 2023, the French energy giant said it will invite Saudi Arabian group ACWA Power to join this solar project.    

Along with creating a large number of employment opportunities, this 1 GW solar power project will also meet Iraq’s growing electricity demand. Iraq is reportedly planning to install 12 GW solar power capacity by 2030. At the end of 2023, its total installed solar PV capacity stood at a mere 42 MW, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).