Amorphous carbon nitride anti-reflection coating for solar cells
Scientists in Iraq have applied an amorphous carbon nitride (CNx) thin film as an anti-reflective layer in commercial crystalline silicon solar cells. They claim they were able to improve their efficiency from 5.52 to 13.05%.
TotalEnergies to build 1 GW solar park in Iraq
TotalEnergies plans to build a 1 GW solar plant near the port of Basra, in southern Iraq.
Iraq announces another 2 GW solar project
Under development by Chinese conglomerate Power China, the project will initially have a capacity of 750 MW.
Masdar secures deal to build 2 GW of solar in Iraq
The UAE-based developer wants to build several projects at unspecified locations in central and southern Iraq.
Solar module cooling technique based on multiple phase-change materials
Academics have utilized three PCMs, known as RT26, RT35, and RT42, and decided to pack them ascendingly depending on their melting points and heat-flow direction. The system is claimed to allow lower melting rates and longer thermal management of the modules.
Cooling PV panels with shallow geothermal energy
Iraqi researchers have demonstrated the technical and economical feasibility of using shallow geothermal energy to cool PV systems. They tested two different techniques – a closed-loop system and an open-cycle system – to reduce power losses from 30% to up to 4.1%.
Iraqi Kurdistan resorts to solar to reduce power shortages
A 2MW pilot project is now being developed in the Governorate of Duhok. The project was funded with $2 million by the European Union.
Solar is gaining traction in MENA region – but plenty of obstacles remain
Solar deployment continued to pick up in the Middle East and North Africa in 2019, the Middle East Solar Industry Association has said in its annual report.
Iraq plans second 750 MW solar tender
Raad Al Haris, an energy advisor to the prime minister, announced the idea at the Energy Transition in the Arab World conference held in Berlin this week. Al Haris also revealed the Iraqi government has pre-qualified 45 bidders for the first tender.
Renewables and geopolitics: The United States
An accelerated transition to renewables could go either way, regarding the United States’ unique geopolitical strength. According to Indra Overland – head of the Center for Energy Research at the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs – the U.S. could surrender a major advantage if it abandons fossil fuel. The nation could, however, remain dominant in the global energy sector if it continues to lead on innovation and clean energy tech-related intellectual property.
