Iraq Powers Up 1 GW Solar Plant in Basra

Iraq just took a giant leap toward a cleaner energy future, and it's happening in the dusty fields of Basra.

The country's Ministry of Electricity announced that 61 megawatts from the first phase of a groundbreaking 1-gigawatt solar power plant are now generating electricity. This isn't just another solar farm. It's Iraq's largest renewable energy project ever, sprawling across 900 hectares in the southeastern governorate.

The plant is being built in four separate 250-megawatt units, with each section designed to integrate smoothly into Iraq's existing power grid. Once this first unit reaches its full capacity, it will connect to the national grid through transmission lines at New Rumaila and Suq al-Shuyukh.

French energy giant TotalEnergies is leading the charge, holding a 45% stake in the project. Basrah Oil Company owns 30%, while QatarEnergy rounds out the partnership with the remaining 25%. The project broke ground just last July, and engineers are now gradually increasing the load to test the system's capabilities.

The full plant won't be complete until 2028, but when it is, it will power 350,000 homes across the region. For a country where electricity blackouts have been a frustrating reality for years, that's genuinely life-changing.

The Ripple Effect

This solar giant represents more than just clean energy. It's a cornerstone of Iraq's ambitious plan to generate 12% of its power from renewable sources by 2027.

The country is shooting even higher for the long term, aiming to deploy 12 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2030. That's a remarkable goal considering Iraq had only 42 megawatts of solar installed by the end of 2024, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

The momentum is building fast. Last September, a 300-megawatt solar site in Karbala started operations. In June, American developer UGT Renewables signed a deal to construct a massive 3-gigawatt solar project. Iraq's government is backing these efforts by slashing customs duties on solar systems from 33% down to just 5%.

For decades, Iraq has relied almost exclusively on fossil fuels and struggled with chronic power shortages. Now, the country is proving that even in challenging circumstances, a renewable energy revolution is possible.

When the Basra plant reaches full capacity, it will stand as proof that big, bold climate action can happen anywhere.