Project

Catalysing the Use of Solar Photovoltaic Energy

Lead country

Iraq

Participating countries

Iraq

Project status

Closure

Implementing period

From December 15, 2014 to October 19, 2020

SDGs addressed by this project

SDG targets

  1. 7.2 Increase share of global renewable energy
  2. 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy

Project ID: 5137

*The boundaries shown and the designations used on the above map and included in lists, tables and documents on this website do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations or UNDP | References to Kosovo* shall be understood to be in the context of UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999).

Technical team

  • Energy Programme

Technical area(s)

  • Renewable Energy
  • Energy access

Sub-area(s)

  • Resource: Solar
  • Type: Off-grid, standalone systems
  • Electricity access

Landscape(s)

N/A

Transformed sector(s)

  • Energy
  • Oil, gas and fuels

UNDP role(s)

  • Capacity development / Technical assistance
  • Institutional mechanism and system building
  • Policy advice

Strategy

  • Law regulation
  • Capacity building
  • Finance economy

Sub-strategy

  • Laws/ Policy/ Plan formulation
  • Institutional framework
  • Technical capacity building
  • Institutional capacity building
  • Energy finance

Social inclusion

  • Private sector
  • Women

Gender equality

  • Women's cooperatives and groups
  • Awareness raising (on gender)

Gender result effectiveness scale

  • Gender targeted

Pathway(s)

  • Sci-tech pathway
  • Systems pathway

Risk reduction target(s)

  • Hazard control/mitigation

SDG target(s)

  • 7.2 Increase share of global renewable energy
  • 7.1 Ensure universal access to sustainable, reliable energy

Conventions and protocols

N/A

Private sector(s)

  • Capital providers

Hot topic

  • Poverty reduction
  • Public-private partnership
  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration

About this project

Description

Iraq is highly dependent on fossil fuels to generate power which, despite recent improvements, does not meet peak demand. Private diesel power generation has grown significantly to meet the gap. Fuel used for domestic power generation denies Iraq the opportunity to export that fuel. The project will catalyse the adoption of solar power in Iraq, both on and off-grid, to: a) reduce Iraq's dependence on fossil fuel; b) result in direct GHG reductions of approximately 741,622 tonnes CO2; and c) help provide reliable power to the Iraqi people to support development and a better standard of living. The project targets residential-scale units (a few kilowatts) as well are utility-scale units (several megawatts). The project aims to facilitate the installation of 5 MW in aggregate of residential-scale PV generation capacity through the Bytti residential development in Najaf, Iraq. The project also aims to support the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity in the establishment of large, utility-scale PV plants, primarily by providing technical and investment support. The project supports the development of a regulatory framework, technical guidelines, capacity building, and institutional arrangements for the development of public and private (Independent Power Producer, IPP) solar power plants. The project's National Focal Point is the Ministry of Environment. The project will receive close collaboration from the Ministry of Electricity, the Renewable Energy Research Centre of the Ministry of Science and Technology, and others. The project is expected to last 48 months.

Objectives

To reduce GHG emissions in Iraq by demonstrating and catalysing the application of distributed solar power to meet the energy needs of offices, small businesses, residences and small town services (small-scale distributed solar PV power plants and utility scale plants, on and off-grid).

USD $2,307,273

Grant amount

USD $10,375,000

Leveraged amount (co-financing)

1

Source(s) of fund

Sources of fund

 

  • Global Environment Facility – Trust Fund ($2,307,273)

Implementing partner(s)

  • Government of Iraq

Project metrics

Related resources

Geospatial information

Discover relevant spatial data related to this project/country/region, powered by UN BiodiversityLab

Project reports and documentation

 

FEATURED STORY

Catalysing the Use of Solar Photovoltaic Energy