Iraqis are turning to solar power on farmland and rooftops as the country's electricity grid fails

Abdallah al-Ali, a wheat farmer in Iraq, is one of many farmers who have switched to solar panels for their irrigation systems to run during the scorching heat of summer.

Iraq, a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and one of the largest oil producers in the world, has struggled with providing energy to its citizens since the 2003 U.S. invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein.

The national grid has been unable to meet demand due to mismanagement and underinvestment.

According to a witness from Mosul in the northern agricultural region of Nineveh, on some days in summer when temperatures can reach 40 degrees Celsius, the power plant only provides electricity half the time.

Al-Ali's monthly electricity bill was almost a million Iraqi Dinars ($763.94). He said that since installing solar, his power supply is reliable and he pays the national grid about 80,000 Iraqi Dinars.

Farmers are switching to solar power to lower their electricity bills and reduce the strain on water pumps. Solar electricity is reliable, he added.

Iraq's vast solar potential is not limited to its oil wealth. The authorities claim they will utilize it in order to reduce carbon emissions and close the gap between the supply and demand.

According to the Ministry of Electricity, there is a plan for 12 gigawatts in solar power by 2030. This includes delivering 1 GW of solar plants to Basra, this year.

According to the estimates of Iraq's electricity ministry in January, peak summer demand is expected to be 55 GW in 2025. Meanwhile, supply will only reach 27 GW.

CITIZEN'S POWER

Al-Ali was not the only one who did not wait for the government's action.

Farmers in Nineveh are able to use rooftop panels or ground-mounted arrays on their farmland to power irrigation and meet household needs.

To maximise energy production, in urban areas, the panels are packed tightly on flat roofs that characterise Mosul's homes.

Hassan Taher is a Mosul-based agricultural engineer who said that switching to solar transformed his life.

"My bills have dropped dramatically, and I've even been able to reduce the heat inside our kitchen with the panels," he said.

Local businesses have also felt the surge in demand.

Mohammed al-Qattan who runs Mosul Solar - a company that installs solar panels - said the interest in his services would increase dramatically between 2024 and 2025. This was especially true for rural communities where 70% of clients resided.

Solar panel systems cost in Iraq between 5 and 10 millions Iraqi dinars. The average system of 5-6 kilowatts costs around 5 million dinars.

Most systems have a warranty of 15 years and many users claim to recoup their upfront costs within one to three years.

These generators also eliminate the need for diesel generators that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide, and other pollutants.

Many urban households subscribe to a backup generator that costs between 50,000 dinars and 100,000 dinars a month.

Al-Qattan, a solar expert, said that solar systems can last up to 30 years and are cheaper than generators.

The solar systems are off-grid and their owners are almost self-sufficient, according to Ahmed Mahmoud Fathi. He is a director at the Nineveh branch office of the state electric company.

The electricity department only charges users for the use of the grid at night. This is particularly attractive to farmers, who use high voltage pumps during the day but do not require electricity at night.

Omar Abdul Kareem Shukr of Sama al-Sharq Company - which sells solar systems - said that people with low and middle incomes are now buying solar systems because government incentives have been implemented to encourage the use of solar panels.

The Central Bank also offers low-interest loans to citizens who want to buy solar panels. However, farmer Abdallah al-Ali claimed he was able do without.

"As a farmer, I am currently reliant on myself. "I heard that the government offers support through an initiative of the Central Bank, but I've never approached them," he said.

(source: Reuters)