Iraq’s two months in the sun

Baghdad has recently pulled off a string of deals promising a manyfold expansion in solar capacity

Iraq had barely 200MW of installed renewables capacity as summer power cuts returned in July, comprising primarily rooftop solar deployed by businesses exasperated by state electricity supplies. The target to have 7.5GW onstream in two years’ time appeared destined to become just another of the authorities’ extravagant energy sector goals, abandoned or repeatedly pushed back when faced with the reality of the country’s complex politics and bureaucracy. But four months on, firm commitments are in place to raise capacity more than 12-fold, with preliminary agreements to double that again. Iraq’s solar potential is vast, with certain areas basking in some of the world’s highest irradiation. The