Renewable Energy Production in Iraq: Reality and Prospects

Abstract

Iraq is one of the important countries that rely heavily on fossil fuels as an important resource for the country and a source of energy used in various fields, which has made it a focus of international interest, especially with its direct impact on climate change represented by low rainfall, low river levels and high temperatures. Therefore, voices have risen towards the use of clean alternatives, especially solar energy and hydroelectric energy, as Iraq surpasses many countries in solar brightness, which reaches about (3) thousand hours per year, in addition to the availability of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and their tributaries, which allows the establishment of solar and hydroelectric power stations. Despite these available components, this has not been invested in the required manner, which is what the research problem represents, as despite the availability of these sources, there are obstacles and difficulties that prevent the maximum benefit from renewable energy sources for technical and financial reasons. Therefore, the research assumes that exploiting these sources and preparing well-studied scientific plans will contribute significantly to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and developing clean and environmentally friendly energy sources. The research reached the conclusion that despite Iraq's attempts to use energy alternatives, its contribution to the total energy sources is still below the level of ambition, as it did not reach (9%) at best. Therefore, the research recommends the necessity of developing the technologies used in exploiting renewable energy sources and seeking the expertise and specialized international companies to establish power stations based on these sources.