QatarEnergy and France’s TotalEnergies have partnered to develop a 1.25 gigawatt (GW) solar power project in Iraq’s Basra region, a venture set to become one of the world’s largest solar installations.
The companies, which confirmed the partnership on Monday, are expected to proceed with phased development from 2025 to 2027, subject to regulatory approval.
QatarEnergy will hold a 50% equity stake in the solar photovoltaic (PV) project, with TotalEnergies retaining the other half, according to a statement by QatarEnergy.
The project, located in Iraq’s south, will be integrated within the $10 billion Gas Growth Integrated Project (GGIP) project, which aims to reduce Iraq’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources, lower carbon emissions, and make use of flared gas resources in the Basra region.
The project will feature two million high-efficiency bifacial solar panels mounted on single-axis trackers, designed to increase energy capture by tracking the sun’s movement.
Once operational, the solar plant will produce sufficient electricity to supply approximately 350,000 homes, significantly easing pressure on the local energy grid and contributing to Iraq’s clean energy transition goals.
Power generated from the facility will be fed directly into Iraq’s local grid, supporting the country’s efforts to diversify its energy sources.
The solar project is in line with the objectives of the GGIP, launched to maximise the value of Iraq’s energy assets, particularly through reducing gas flaring—a process where natural gas is burned off during oil extraction, leading to substantial CO₂ emissions.
The GGIP consortium, which includes Iraq’s Basra Oil Company (30%), initially saw QatarEnergy join in June 2023 with a 25% stake, alongside TotalEnergies’ 45%.
In a statement, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO of QatarEnergy, stressed the project’s significance for Iraq’s energy landscape. “I am pleased to have concluded our entry into this very important project for Iraq’s energy sector, and look forward to working with our strategic partner, TotalEnergies, to progress it to fruition. We thank the Iraqi government for their trust and TotalEnergies for this opportunity to support Iraq’s solar power development.”
The Basra solar project reflects Iraq’s ongoing efforts to increase renewable energy capacity and modernise its energy infrastructure, which has long relied heavily on oil and gas.
The partnership highlights QatarEnergy’s expanding investment in solar energy, following its September announcement of a 2GW solar project in Qatar’s Dukhan area. The new installation will double Qatar’s solar capacity.
For TotalEnergies, the project reinforces its strategic focus on expanding its renewable energy portfolio, as the company pursues a target of 100GW of renewable capacity by 2030.
The Basra project’s scale and ambition also align with TotalEnergies’ recent renewable investments in the Middle East, where demand for clean energy solutions is accelerating in response to national sustainability goals.
TotalEnergies designs, finances, builds and operates large solar and onshore wind plants. Leveraging its longstanding presence and deep roots in different parts of the world, the company is delivering projects that are both reliable and sustainable over the long term.
For instance, it has entered into agreements to develop an 800-megawatt (MW) solar plant in Al Kharsaah, Qatar. The facility will meet around 10% of Qatar’s electricity peak demand and will reduce its CO2-equivalent emissions by 26 million metric tons throughout the life of the project.
Backed by its recognised expertise in managing offshore projects, TotalEnergies decided in 2020 to become a player in offshore wind.
First, it entered into Seagreen 1, a major fixed-bottom offshore wind project in the United Kingdom. Featuring a generating capacity of up to 1,500 megawatts, the facility will cover the energy needs of around 1 million U.K.
Last week, Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) announced that consortiums of leading utility developers including TotalEnergies, Masdar and EDF had been shortlisted for the fifth round of National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) solar projects.
The projects, which will attract investments worth over SAR8 billion ($2.12 billion), will be implemented on a build, own and operate (BOO) model by a project company, and will be 100% owned by the successful bidder.
