From Generators to Green Energy: How Kurdistan Can End Its Electricity Crisis

Opinions 10:30 AM - 2026-11-05

Halwest Qadir

By Halwest Qadir 

The electricity shortage in Iraqi Kurdistan started since 1990 after the invasion of Kuwait, which has led to the emergence of the Kurdish autonomous region. The problem of the energy sources started when neither the Kurdish regional government nor the central government in Baghdad managed to contain the problem of that shortage; thus, the local people started to rely on small diesel generators at each home, and this pollution contaminated all three cities in Sulaimanyah. Erbil and Duhok. 

Covering the issue much more broadly, other factors exacerbated the relations between the KRG and the central government, among them the dispute over the natural resources and the way that they were distributed and exported, in addition to the drought, which was affecting both dams of Dukan and Darbandikhan, mitigating their ability to produce electricity. 

This topic matters because it is bringing socioeconomic impact on households, public services, and businesses, creating scepticism about tourism despite the breathtaking nature of Iraqi Kurdistan. The environmental and public health costs from generator pollution are severe, and the cities are extremely polluted by so many small diesel generators erected in every householder’s house, therefore, proposing a feasible, actionable policy to mitigate the crisis and solve the problem is vital. The proposed remedy is to start with diversifying the energy sources, instead of relying mainly on diesel, adopting a renewable energy transition strategy. 

Understanding the Energy Crisis Deeper in the KRG Context

A main factor of the crise is a structural dependence on Baghdad for budget transfers, which made the KRG vulnerable, thus, the effects of revenue volatility, such as oil sales, debt, and Erbil–Baghdad disputes, made the energy crise even more complicated. Historically, securitization of energy in the MENA has produced fragile and militarized energy systems, which can be a good lesson to learn to the KRG in order to create energy and economic independence rather than relying only on fossil fuel revenues. 

The KRG’s challenge to diversify the energy sources reflected on the economic, political, health, and environmental aspects negatively, and the previous policies have faced difficulties due to lack of planning, using fossil fuels, when the KRG’s institutions failed to hire technocrats, aiming to diversify the energy sources by importing progressive politics and technology, especially when the KRG has the ability to produce energy in a more volatile way, aiming to avoid political crisis and solve the problem of the electricity shortage that has lasted for decades. 

Policy Options

The KRG is dependent on fossil fuel energy to produce power, and about 85% of the production comes from fossil fuels, and the remaining 15% is produced by hydroelectric plants. Therefore, we need renewable energy sources to diversify energy sources and reduce CO₂ emissions in KRG. In order to become less reliant on fossil fuels, clean energy sources are proposed, such as, solar, wind, hydropower. 

The Potential of Investing in Solar Energy 

Academic research that I have read about solar energy in the KRG emphasizes its strong impact and contribution in terms of technical and economic feasibility. Previous studies prove that solar energy can be utilized, especially in urban areas such as Erbil, Duhok, and Suli, by using both rooftop and utility-scale solar installations. The positive impact of using green energy can be detected on both energy security and economic growth. The main advantage of solar energy is the sunny nature of the KRG, and it can particularly solve the problem of chronic electricity shortages. Another contribution of solar power is to reduce household energy costs. 

Why Do We Need to Develop Wind Energy 

Another energy source that the KRG can utilize from is wind energy, and academic source indicate that the KRG’s geographic nature is helpful to provide versatility of the nature to provide multiple sources of green energy, in particular in the mountainous and rural areas, especially when the KRG needs policy to face the problem of the rising demand for energy. The field studies refer to the suitability of the KRG to use wind energy, indicating that several sites have the potential to become suitable for producing wind energy, and the highest speed of the wind was found in the Chamchamal area, and it fluctuated between 13.66 m/s (meter per second) in August and 6.50 m/s in February. 

Hydropower Expansion and Lubrication

Academic research on water shortage in the Middle East emphasizes that building dams is inevitable to mitigate the impact of climate change. Hydropower solution is feasible, especially, after the success of both dams, Dukan and Darbandikhan, and later adding the Duhok dam. Despite the major contribution of all three dams to produce electricity, these dams are old, and their ability to produce electricity is constrained by aging infrastructure and fluctuating water availability, in addition to competing demands for irrigation and domestic water use. The ability to build more dams was ignored due to the high expenses of building new dams and lack of a plan to make investment. The concept of Bekhme dam can be a good example that was abandoned later, and the dam could become the biggest hydropower energy project in the KRG, saving millions of Liters of water in order to encounter drought and water shortage in the region. Therefore, building new dams can be decisive to counter the problem of water shortage, using the hydropower energy project to mitigate emission of CO₂ and decrease pollution, despite the complicity of these projects of building new dams due to high financial costs, in addition to potential transboundary political risks, specifically, about water source control with both Turkey and Iran. 

Building a Sustainable Energy Future Through Inclusive Deliberation

Diversifying energy sources can make the KRG appears unique in a region that is heavily relying on fossil fuels, in addition to avoiding famous phenomena called by the Dutch Disease. As a result, a new and innovative way to do the deliberation can be used to reach the best possible outcomes, such as, including the civil society, and deliberating on how pollution might affect their health in the urban areas due to the diesel generators. Another suggestion is engaging the Kurdish academic expertise in the diaspora, aiming to utilize their academic knowledge. The KRG can benefit from new ways of deliberation to come up with the best possible remedies to construct the best energy discourse. Finally, INGOS can be helpful to help to promote for attracting foreign investment that can reduce the economic burden on the KRG to invest in new green energy that can reduce the reliance on fossil fuel. 

Halwest Qadir is an author and policy writer specializing in security, governance, migration, development, and international affairs. He holds degrees in American Studies from Uppsala University and Middle Eastern Studies from Lund University. His work focuses on geopolitical developments, public policy, humanitarian affairs, and the role of international organizations in conflict and post-conflict environments.