"We used to install solar panels once every one or two months," Mawlud Jamil, a specialist who has been installing solar panels in and around Erbil for 20 years, told Rudaw’s Bilind T. Abdullah. "And that was only for big companies and NGOs. But now ordinary people have also taken an interest. We are now installing solar panels daily in the city and in villages," he added, pointing to the increasing demand for solar power in the Kurdistan Region.
Mohammed Hasan, who has been installing solar panels since 2018 said that installing them on his own house has granted him greater freedom and stability. “I have not needed a generator since I installed them because I have 20 to 30 amperes a day, but sometimes I still need national electricity,” said Hasan.
"I am very glad that I have turned to solar panels because they are environmentally friendly and Erbil should be free from smoke and polluted air," he said, referring to the high number of power generators across Erbil neighborhoods.
Aso Sian, a resident of Erbil who has recently decided to move to a farm in Mortka village outside the city, and switched to solar power about a year ago, expressed regret at not having made the shift sooner.
"I have installed the whole system, consisting of six solar panels and two batteries which continuously provide seven to eight amps of electricity daily, for $2,200," he said, adding that he is very comfortable with the setup.
There are reportedly 5,000 public power generators and 3,000 private power generators across the Kurdistan Region, with the vast majority being located in urban areas where the demand is higher compared to remote areas where the population is too small to buy a power generator.
In late 2022, the Oil and Electricity Syndicate in Erbil established a solar power committee for Erbil and its surroundings.
"There has been a lot of demand for solar panels in the past two years, especially after 2022, due to increased awareness and knowledge among citizens, in addition to the lack of continuous electricity," Mohammed Hassan, Deputy Chairman of the committee told Rudaw.
He added that the solar panels have now become cheaper and more cost effective, with the prices of some panels having decreased by 50%.
Hassan noted that while the market for solar panels was valued at around 2 million USD in 2022, the higher demand and awareness regarding environmental issues is expected to cause the figure to triple in 2023.
In May 2023 the government laid the foundation stone for a 25 megawatt solar power plant in Erbil, aimed at providing electricity for the citizens of the Region at more affordable prices. There are currently two solar power plants in the Region generating 3 megawatts of electricity, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has revealed plans to build an additional station, generating 100 megawatts of electricity, in Erbil province’s Soran Administration.
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