Iraq seeks developers for 750 MW solar projects
Iraq, Baghdad: Iraq’s government is seeking international investors to develop seven PV solar plants with a total capacity of 750 MW.
Image source: Energy & Utilities
Iraq, Baghdad: Iraq’s government is seeking international investors to develop seven PV solar plants with a total capacity of 750 MW.
Iraq’s Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar revealed on 22 February that the government was in talks with international energy firms including France’s Total and some “Norwegian companies” about developing PV solar IPPs, with the largest plant in Karbala planned to have a capacity of 300 MW.
The oil minister said that Iraq was planning to produce 10 GW of solar energy by the end of 2030.
Iraq’s Electricity Ministry first announced the 750 MW solar IPP programme in April 2019, when it invited developers to submit expressions of interest (EOI) for the scheme.
The Electricity Ministry revealed at the time that the projects would be developed under a build–own–operate model, with a special purpose vehicle (SVP) to be set up by the successful developer to build and operate the plants.
The ministry stated it would connect the solar plants to the Iraqi transmission grid under a transmission connection contract and will lease the land to the SPV under a land-lease contract. The ministry would be the offtaker for the electricity and would purchase the power from the SPV established by the appointed developers for each project.
The seven planned solar projects are:
- Al-Diwania solar IPP – 50 MW capacity, in Diwania province
- Iskandariya solar IPP – 225 MW capacity, in Babil province
- Jissan solar IPP – 50 MW capacity, in Wassit province
- Karbala solar IPP – 300 MW capacity, in Karbala province
- Khidhir solar IPP – 50 MW capacity, in Muthana province
- Sawa 1 solar IPP – 30 MW capacity, in Muthana province
- Sawa 2 solar IPP – 50 MW capacity, in Muthana province
The Electricity Ministry stated in the EOI announcement that it may award the projects separately or group them together.
Source: Energy & Utilities