Powering Through: Iraq Turns to Solar Energy Amid Bolstering Power Shortages

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As Iraq grapples with worsening power shortages, many residents and businesses are increasingly turning to solar panels to secure reliable electricity. On farmland and rooftops, solar installations are sprouting up across the country, providing a lifeline amid frequent blackouts and a strained national grid. These systems not only help keep homes and businesses running—in some cases cooling crops and irrigating fields—but they also offer a measure of independence and resilience as the government struggles to meet the nation’s growing energy needs.

Despite the initial investment required for solar panels and batteries, users say the long-term savings and steady supply of power are worth the cost. The spread of solar energy is transforming how Iraqis cope with unreliable infrastructure, with some local companies and farmers now even selling surplus electricity to neighbors. Renewable energy is quickly becoming a crucial alternative, especially as demand for air conditioning surges in the country’s extreme summer heat.

Read the original Arizona solar power article.