Baghdad- The Ministry of Electricity has announced an initiative aimed at encouraging citizens to acquire solar power systems and connect them to the electrical network. This initiative comes within the government’s efforts to overcome previous problems, due to the lack of Iranian gas entry and the problems of importing electricity by searching for other means to diversify energy sources and reduce the burden on the national electrical system.
Last Tuesday, Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel announced the rehabilitation of 8 specialized companies in the field of solar energy within the first stage, within the framework of the initiative of the Central Bank of Iraq.
The electrical system in Iraq faces increasing pressure, which affects the stability of the electrical current and meet the needs of citizens.
Iraq relies heavily on Iranian gas to operate its electrical stations, especially in the south, and this makes the country vulnerable to any fluctuations in gas supplies from Iran.
Iran provides Iraq by about 50 million cubic meters of gas per day, covering about a third of the country’s needs, which is enough to produce about 6 thousand megawatts of electricity, but this amount is not enough to meet Iraq’s needs in peak times.
Solar energy
A spokesman for the Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Musa Al -Abadi, confirmed that the ministry worked through its platform to open a bid between companies to proceed with the plan, as 8 of the discreet companies were chosen.
Al -Abadi said in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net that these companies with approved specifications have been nominated, from which the citizen can acquire solar panels and systems.
He pointed out that the role of the ministry in this matter is to support the accurate approval of the acquisition of the appropriate company from which the citizen can buy within the Central Bank’s initiative loans these systems and solar panels, and the Ministry also worked to offer evaluations through the platform for the bids of competing companies, where 8 companies were chosen announced The ministry.
He indicated that the initiative was issued by the Central Bank and they are concerned with providing the necessary allocations for the initiative previously announced by the government by instructing the Central Bank to the banks by offering a small initiative to citizens to provide loans to purchase these systems, and it is paid in installments without interest.
He stated that the companies that were chosen with a sober product and a high standard are appropriate to connect them with the electrical network with citizens to buy systems and work to link them to networks.
Al -Abadi stressed that the project was actually launched, and the citizen can review banks to acquire these systems through loans, and the initiative was launched, and it was going in a simple way, but today it was accelerated by focusing from the ministry and directing the citizens to acquire those systems that will reduce the burden of pressure on the electrical system.
Large needs and opportunities available
Energy expert, Hadi Ali Taha, confirmed that Iraq needs approximately 30 to 40 thousand megawatts to cover its full need, especially with the peak time in the summer and winter seasons, and that it is possible to create plants to generate solar energy and wind energy in Iraq, due to the presence of vast areas in the southern governorates Like Muthanna Governorate and Western Governorates, such as Anbar Governorate.
It is noteworthy that the current production volume of electricity in Iraq reaches only 18 thousand megawatts.
Last April, the Ministry of Electricity announced the increase in the volume of energy produced by 3,000 megawatts, while indicating its endeavor to reach the volume of production of 27 thousand megawatts.
Taha said in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net that such projects cannot be created in a short period, but rather this should be done gradually, by relying on current stations and providing fuel for them, then rapid starting to build solar power plants to replace them.
He pointed out that the experience of relying on solar energy as an option to reduce pressure from the electrical system is a successful option, and this experience can succeed, especially since the world is tending to use renewable energy because of its economic and environmental advantages.
He explained that the mechanisms of success of this experience depend on the state’s support for the public and private sectors, encouraging investments in this regard, and enacting laws to regulate work and ensuring consumer and producer rights.
He emphasized that these systems are long, and do not need continuous maintenance, as the average age of the solar tablet reaches 25 years, as well as “infinities” and other parts of the solar system.
He explained that all these systems need is continuous cleaning of dust, dust and dirt, especially if we know that the atmosphere of Iraq produces a large amount of dust and dust throughout the year, but it is practically possible to form maintenance teams for these systems if necessary.
An alternative to Iranian gas
Taha answered a question related to the possibility of dispensing Iranian gas and all types of fossil fuels, saying: Yes, it is possible to dispense with all types of fossil fuels polluted to the environment, and we do not need to import electricity if the gas, thermal, electrical and current diesel stations are relied upon.
He noted that this step will be successful on the condition that the fuel is provided to it, then start gradually by relying on solar power plants and reducing dependence on the stations that operate in fossil fuel, until solar power plants are produced that cover the country’s need, and then the stations operating with gas and fuel are canceled The questioner, and this is what the world is currently going.
