Iraq's electricity supply gap exceeds 50%, experts urge solar expansion

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's electricity demand has surpassed 50,000 megawatts while domestic generation remains below 25,000 megawatts, leaving the country with a supply gap of more than 50%, renewable energy specialists said. Ady Majid Zamli, a member of parliament's Oil and Gas Committee, noted that Iraq receives high solar irradiance year-round, with the central and southern regions offering suitable conditions for photovoltaic installations. Oil expert Kovend Shirevani said Iraq records more than 300 sunny days a year, enough to commission at least two solar power plants annually, each with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts, allowing the gap to be narrowed within several years. Electrical engineer Ahmed Adnan said peak demand has reached 56,000 megawatts, adding that solar projects around Basra could serve as a model for nationwide rollout. Experts estimate that closing the shortfall would require deploying 20 to 25 million solar panels and adding roughly 12,000 megawatts of capacity. They attributed the deepening crisis to population growth, rapid urbanization, fuel shortages and an aging transmission and distribution network. Specialists said a five- to ten-year reconstruction plan, coupled with battery storage investments, would be essential to stabilize the grid.