Chinese Solar Tech Powers Iraq’s Green Energy Transition

Chinese solar photovoltaic technology is playing a transformative role in addressing Iraq’s chronic electricity shortages, as collaboration between the two countries accelerates under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). From utility-scale solar farms to residential rooftop installations, Chinese companies are helping Iraq diversify its energy mix away from near-total fossil fuel dependence.

A Nation in the Dark

Iraq faces a severe power deficit that has plagued the country for decades. Summer electricity demand can reach 62,000 MW, but current production falls significantly short, leaving a projected 34,000 MW deficit for summer 2026. Daily power outages lasting up to 22 hours are common in many regions, forcing citizens to rely on an estimated 4.5 million private diesel generators, as DW reported.

Over 98% of Iraq’s electricity is produced from fossil fuels, and the country relies heavily on imported natural gas—up to 40% from Iran. The ongoing Iran war has exacerbated the crisis: in March 2026, Iran completely cut gas supplies to Iraq after Israel attacked its gas fields, leaving many Iraqis without power for days.

“In the war, Iranian gas was cut and for four days, we had no electricity,” Hiba al-Amiri, a Baghdad-based teacher, told DW. “After that, a lot of our neighbors were also talking about this [solar]. Everybody is really starting to think about it seriously.”

Chinese Solar at Scale

Under the BRI framework, which Iraq joined in October 2019, Chinese companies are leading major solar projects across the country. The flagship initiative is the Ratawi 1 GW solar project in Basra governorate—Iraq’s first large centralized photovoltaic plant. According to the China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC), Unit 1 (250 MW) achieved full-capacity grid connection on March 4, 2026. The project is being developed in four 250 MW phases by a consortium led by Energy China International.

Once fully commissioned by 2028, the Ratawi plant will supply approximately 2,900 GWh of clean electricity annually, powering an estimated 350,000 households and reducing CO₂ emissions by about 2.385 million tonnes per year, as PV Magazine reported.

In early 2026, a 10 MW solar photovoltaic station was commissioned at the Misan oil field, led by CNOOC. Iraq’s Deputy Oil Minister Basim Khudair called it “a strategic step to integrate clean energy into oil field operations,” according to People’s Daily.

Grassroots Adoption Accelerates

Chinese solar technology is not only transforming Iraq’s energy infrastructure at the industrial scale—it is also changing lives at the grassroots level. In Muthanna Province, farmer Fenjan Ahmed told People’s Daily that his farmland is now entirely powered by Chinese solar PV panels for irrigation pumping. “This new technology has changed our way of working and brought greater stability to agricultural production,” he said.

Bassim Ahmed, manager of a local solar energy supply company, noted that Chinese technology has become the mainstream choice in the Iraqi market. His company’s imports of Chinese solar equipment grew approximately 30% year-on-year. “Chinese manufacturing companies have rich experience in photovoltaic power generation. Chinese technology and products have become the mainstream choice in the Iraqi market due to their high efficiency and cost-effectiveness,” he told People’s Daily.

The numbers confirm the trend. According to China Environment News, Iraq’s imports of Chinese solar panels more than quadrupled between 2024 and 2025, rising from 0.43 GW to 1.89 GW, making Iraq the fifth-largest Arab importer of Chinese solar panels.

Government Support and Policy Incentives

The Iraqi government has set ambitious renewable energy targets, aiming to generate 20-25% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with a specific goal of deploying 12 GW of solar power. To accelerate adoption, Iraq’s central bank established a loan scheme in early 2025 for citizens and small businesses to install solar systems, and import duties on solar components were reduced from 33% to 5% in March 2026.

Nasser Karim, Head of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project Team at the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, told People’s Daily: “In recent years, breakthroughs in renewable energy cooperation between Iraq and China reflect not only the rapid growth of market demand in this field in Iraq but also highlight the key role Chinese enterprises play in supporting Iraq’s energy green transition.”

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Despite the rapid progress, experts caution that solar power alone cannot solve Iraq’s structural electricity problems. According to ZAWYA, the Ratawi project is part of a broader $10 billion Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) involving TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy, highlighting the complex international partnership landscape.

Umud Shokri, an energy strategist and Senior Visiting Fellow at George Mason University, told DW: “Iraq’s electricity crisis is structural. Solar should be treated as one part of the solution, not a magic fix. Iraq still needs grid reform, better gas use, transmission upgrades, stronger institutions and serious investment in power generation.”

Harry Istepanian, founder of the Iraq Climate Change Center, added that Iraq needs a combination of state-provided solar power and private adoption. “Industrial solar parks such as Karbala are important,” he told DW, “but Iraq also needs rooftop solar standards, certified installers, consumer protection, concessional loans and clear rules for connecting solar systems to the grid.”

What to Watch For

If Iraq achieves its 12 GW solar target by 2030, it would represent a fundamental transformation of its energy sector. The Ratawi project’s remaining three units are expected to come online progressively through 2028. Meanwhile, China’s growing role in Iraq’s energy sector strengthens its influence in the Middle East at a time of regional upheaval, though Iraq’s urgent need for rapid energy solutions gives it limited alternatives.

For now, the collaboration between Chinese technology and Iraqi ambition is already delivering tangible results—bringing reliable electricity to farms, homes, and government buildings across a nation that has endured decades of energy scarcity.