On March 4 local time, the Unit 1 (250 MW) of the Ratawi 1GW Photovoltaic Solar Farm Project, Iraq’s first large centralized PV project, achieved full-capacity grid connection. The project is undertaken by a consortium comprising Energy China International, China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co., Ltd., and Southwest Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. of China Power Engineering Consulting Group.
The project primarily involves the design, procurement, construction, and commissioning of both the PV plant and a 132 kV substation. With an AC-side capacity of 1 GW, the project is developed in four phases, each with a capacity of 250 MW. Once completed, it is expected to supply approximately 2,900 GWh of clean electricity to Iraq’s national grid annually. This will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.385 million tonnes per year and power an estimated 350,000 local households, thereby significantly increasing the share of renewable energy in Iraq’s energy mix.
