Solar Energy in Kurdistan, Iraq: A Comprehensive Review of Economic and Environmental Implications, Policies, and Advancements

Abstract

This review article prepares an evaluation of the role that solar energy plays, in Kurdistan, Iraq. Specifically, it concentrates on the implications for the region’s economy and environment. By considering sources and empirical studies this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status of solar energy adoption in Kurdistan. In addition, it explores the associated policy framework. Evaluates both the economic effects, within this specific context. The initial analysis discovers the network of policies and regulations that shape the energy landscape in Kurdistan. It prepares insights, into the opportunities and challenges associated with these policies. The study also considers the advancements in photovoltaic systems, energy storage, and grid integration in this region. These advancements play a significant role in ensuring efficient solar power generation. Moreover, this review thoroughly evaluates the impact of energy. It emphasizes how cost-effective it is and highlights its potential to increase energy security mitigate reliance on fuels and stimulate growth, in Kurdistan. It also discovers the barriers to adoption, offering insights into financing mechanisms and investment strategies essential for unlocking the full economic potential of solar energy. In the realm of environmental considerations, this review evaluates the profound effect of solar energy adoption in terms of reducing carbon emissions, reducing air pollution, and promoting sustainable development. The results emphasize the regional commitment to a cleaner and more environmentally responsible energy infrastructure. Finally, this article underscores the multifaceted opportunities and challenges that solar energy presents in Kurdistan. Preparing a balanced evaluation of policy, technology, economics, and environmental aspects, equips policymakers, scholars, and industry stakeholders with valuable insights for fostering the widespread integration of solar energy in this dynamic region. Through critical analysis and nuanced recommendations, this review contributes to the current discourse on Kurdistan's transition toward a sustainable and economically viable energy landscape.

Keywords

• Solar Energy
• Kurdish Region
• Environmental Impact
• Economical Effect

Kaynakça

1. Al-Mazroay, Tareq Aziz Dawood, Study The Potential of Renewable Energy Resources in Iraq Kurdistan with a Focus on Solar Energy,2023, Retrieved from http://acikerisim.karabuk.edu.tr:8080/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/2766/10555772.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
2. André Månberger, Reduced Use of Fossil Fuels can Reduce Supply of Critical Resources, Biophysical Economics and Sustainability ,6:6, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41247-021-00088-5
3. Anna Ivanova, Iraq's Kurdistan Awards 300 MW of Solar Projects – report, 2021, Retrieved from https://renewablesnow.com/news/iraqs-kurdistan-awards-300-mw-of-solar-projects-report-767622/ Asian Development Bank, Renewable Energy Developments and Potential In The Greater Mekong Subregion, 2015, ISBN 978-92-9254-831-5, Retrieved from https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/161898/renewable-energy-developments-gms.pdf
4. Azad Azabany, Khalid Khan, Waqar Ahmed and Mahmood H Shah. Energy Analysis For Replacing Fossil Fuel Energy Source of Electricity with solar Cells in The Uk and Kurdistan, Iraq. Asian Journal of Science and Technology, 5(9), 541-545, 2014.
5. Azad Azabany, Khalid Khan, Waqar Ahmed. Solar Photovoltaic Generation Potential and Plant Capacity in Northern Iraq. Asian Journal of Science and Technology, 5(7), 423-426, 2014
6. Azhi Rasul, KRG Electricity Generation Still Far Outstripped by Demand, 09-09-2023 Retrieved from https://www.rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/090920231, 09-09-2023 Country of Origin Information Report Kurdistan Regional Government
7. Area of Iraq, 21 MAY 2009, Retrieved from https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4a24e5ae2.pdf
8. Dashti Adil, Iraqi Kurdistan’s Electricity Crisis: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions, The Institute of Regional and International Studies, 2023, Retrieved from https://auis.edu.krd/iris/iraqi_kurdistans_electricity_crisis_challenges_and-sustainable_solutions

9. Diler Haji Morad, The Potential and Social Acceptability of Renewable Energy sources in North Iraq: Kurdistan Region, Academic Journal of Nawroz University (AJNU),93-103, Volume 7, No 4 ,2018.doi : 10.25007/ajnu.v7n4a276
10. Hamadamin, H. K., Jahfer, M. S., Hemn, M. S. Utilization of Solar Energy for Electricity Generation in Kurdistan - Koya City. Advances in Energy and Power, 3(2), 15-18, 2015.
11. Hannah Lynch, Can Solar Power Brighten Kurdistan’s Future? 2018, Retrieved from https://www.rudaw.net/english/business/05112018
12. Hayder H. Abbas, The Feasibility of Using a Solar Power Generator System in Kurdistan: Koya City as a Case Study. First International Symposium on Urban Development: Koya as a Case Study 151-157, 2013. Henrik Lund, Renewable Energy Strategies for Sustainable Development. Energy, Volume 32, Issue 6, June 2007, Pages 912-919
13. Husami, M. S., Energy crisis in Kurdistan and the impact of renewable energy, University of Strathclyde. Glasgow, 2007.
14. Hussein, A. K., Miqdam, T. C. Status and Future Prospects of Renewable Energy in Iraq. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 6007–6012, 2012.
15. IRENA 2021, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2020, Retrieved from https://www.irena.org//media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Jun/IRENA_Power_Generation_Costs_2020.pdf
16. Issa, B. Mega-Project Plans for Developing the Power and Water Sector in Iraq and Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Dubai: UAE., 2014, Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/BasilIssa1/mega-project-plans-for-developing-the-power-and
17. Kazem, A.A., Chaichan, M.T. and Kazem, H.A. Dust Effect on Photovoltaic Utilization in Iraq: Review Article. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 37, 734–749, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.05.073
18. Khalid Khan, Azad Azabany and Waqar Ahmed, Reductions in Co2 Emissions From Electricity Generation from Solar Energy at Sulaymanyah AirportiIn Kurdistan, Iraq, Asian Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 5, Issue 8, pp. 479-481, August, 2014
19. Kurdistan Regional Government, 2023, Retrieved from http://bot.gov.krd/about-kurdistan/climate
20. Mahmud Mustafa, Samira Ali, J. Richard Snape, Behrang Vand, Investigations Towards Lower Cooling Load in a Typical Residential Building in Kurdistan (Iraq) ,Energy Reports, Volume 6, Supplement 6, November 2020, Pages 571-580
21. Meurs, P. v., Comparative Analysis of Ministry of Oil and Kurdistan fiscal terms as applied to the Kurdistan Region. London: Clifford Chance LLP, 2008. Retrieved from https://govkrd.b-cdn.net/Ministries/Ministry%20of%20Natural%20Resources/English/Publications/Contracts/A%20New%20PSC/report%20by%20Dr%20Pedro%20van%20Meurs.pdf Ministry of Planning- Kurdistan Region Government, Kurdistan Region of Iraq 2020: A Vision for the Future. 2013, Retrieved from https://andp.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/202009/Kurdistan%20Region%20of%20Iraq%202020%20-%20A%20Vision%20for%20the%20Future.pdf
22. Mirza, S. A., Arif,A. A. Economical Environmental and Performance Analysis for a 200 KW Ground Mounted Photovoltaic System: Koya City, Kurdistan of Iraq. International Journal of Engineering Technology, Management and Applied Sciences, 3(3), 72-84, 2015.
23. Mohamed Shwan Husami, Energy Crisis in Kurdistan and The Impact of Renewable Energy, 2007, Retrieved from https://www.academia.edu/24738252/Energy_Crisis_in_Kurdistan_And_The_Impact_of_Renewable_Energy Olusola Bamisile , Foyin Olubiyo , Mustafa Dagbasi , Humphrey Adun and Ifeoluwa Wole-Osho, Economic Analysis and Performance of PV Plants: An Application in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Int. Journal of Renewable Energy Development 8 (3) 2019: 293-301
24. Ouattara, A., L. Pibouleau, C. Azzaro-Pantel, and S. Domenech, Economic and Environmental Impacts of the Energy Source for the Utility Production System in the HDA Process, Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 74, pp. 129-139, 10// 2013.
25. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Postnote: Carbon Footprint of Electricity Generation. 2006. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn268.pdf 2016 Sep 3.
26. Paul Adjei Kwakwa, Climate Change Mitigation Role of Renewable Energy Consumption: Does Institutional Quality Matter in The Case of Reducing Africa's Carbon Dioxide Emissions? Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 342, 15 September 2023, 118234
27. Rashid, R.H.M. (2014). The Use of Water for Sustainable Rural Development: A Case Study in the Kurdistan Regional Government. Cluj-Napoca, Romania: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine. Doctoral Thesis.
28. REN21, Global Status Report Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, 2007, Retrieved from http://www.ren21.net/
29. Rozhan Sardar, Solar Energy, University of Salahaddin, 2020, Retrieved from https://academics.su.edu.krd/public/profiles/chnar.hussain/supervision/supervision-184-8846-1593546849-1.pdf Saeed, M.A., & Qadir, K.W. Study and Analysis of Global and Extraterrestrial Solar Radiation over Kurdistan Region-Iraq. In: 3rd International Scientific, 2010
30. Conference, Salahaddin University, Erbil. Kurdistan Region of Iraq. October Salar Salah Muhy Al-Din, Duško Kuzović, Maryam Iranfar, Renewable Energy Strategies to Overcome Power Shortage in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Industrija, Vol.45, No.2, 2017
31. Salem Algarni , Vineet Tirth , Talal Alqahtani , Sultan Alshehery , Pravin Kshirsagar, Contribution of Renewable Energy Sources to the Environmental Impacts and Economic Benefits for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, Volume 56, March 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2023.103098
32. Scddeek, R.E.,Wahab, S.K. Wind Energy Proposed in Kurdistan-Iraq. Journal of Engineering Research and Applications, 3(6), 1531-1535, 2013.
33. Shafaqnews, Kurdistan Region Ministry of Electricity Releases Statistics on Power Infrastructure and Subscribers, 2023-08-29, Retrieved from https://shafaq.com/en/Kurdistan/Kurdistan-Region-Ministry-of-Electricity-Releases-Statistics-on-Power-Infrastructure-and-Subscribers
34. Šúri M., H. T. A., Dunlop E.D, PVGIS: A Web-Based Solar Radiation Database for the Calculation of PV Potential in Europe. International Journal of Sustainable Energy, vol. 24, 2, 55-67, 2005.
35. Tansu Galimova, Manish Ram, Christian Breyer, Mitigation of Air Pollution and Corresponding Impacts During a Global Energy Transition Towards 100% Renewable Energy System by 2050, Energy Reports, Volume 8, November 2022, Pages 14124-14143
36. Tatyana Bulavskaya a, Frédéric Reynès , Job Creation and Economic Impact of Renewable Energy in The Netherlands, Renewable Energy Volume 119, April 2018, Pages 528-538
37. The United Nations Development Programme, 9 Sept 2021 Retrieved from https://www.undp.org/iraq/projects/catalysing-use-solar-photovoltaic-energy
38. Tran Thai Ha Nguyen , Yu-Te Tu , Gia Luat Diep , Trung Kien Tran , Nguyen Hoang Tien, FengSheng Chien, Impact of Natural Resources Extraction and Energy Consumption on the Environmental Sustainability in ASEAN Countries, Resources Policy, Volume 85, Part A, August 2023, 103713 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resourpol.2023.103713
39. Trapani, K. and D. L. Millar, Proposing Offshore Photovoltaic (PV) Technology to the Energy Mix of the Maltese Islands, Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 67, pp. 18-26, 3// 2013 US Information Administration. CO2 Emissions Worldwide. Retrieved June 4, 2012, from: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/environment/emissions/carbon
40. Yassen, H. Energy Sources and Utilization in Iraq Kurdistan Region. Ministry of electricity Kurdistan region. 2016, from https://eneken.ieej.or.jp/data/4502.pdf.
41. Yaseen Hasan, In Iraqi Kurdistan, Solar Offers Hope to the Powerless, August 17, 2018, Retrieved from https://www.wri.org/insights/iraqi-kurdistan-solar-offers-hope-powerless
42. Zanist Hama-Aziz, Air Pollution in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Review, sriwijaya journal of environment, vol 6, no 3, 2021.
43. Zhao H., Magoulès F. A Review on The Prediction of Building Energy Consumption. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 16 (6), pp. 3586-3592, 2012.