In the vast farmlands of Musana Province in southern Iraq, rows of solar photovoltaic panels continuously power irrigation pumps. This seemingly ordinary scene signifies a profound transformation for a country grappling with severe electricity shortages. Although Iraq is rich in oil and gas resources, its natural gas development has long lagged behind, forcing reliance on imported gas to meet power generation needs; during summer peak periods, power outages have become commonplace. In recent years, climate change has led to rising temperatures and worsening water scarcity, making the need for energy diversification more urgent than ever.
It is against this backdrop that photovoltaic technology from China has quietly entered the farmlands and households of Iraq. The farmland of local farmer Fajjan Ahmed now relies entirely on solar photovoltaic panels from China to generate electricity for pumping irrigation systems, significantly reducing farming costs while ensuring uninterrupted irrigation operations. Basin Ahmed, manager of a local photovoltaic energy supply company, revealed that market demand for solar power systems in Iraq has surged this year, with the company’s imports of photovoltaic equipment from China increasing by approximately 30% year-on-year. He particularly noted that Chinese manufacturers, leveraging their extensive experience and products’ high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, have become the mainstream choice in the Iraqi market.
At the project level, the cooperation between China and Iraq has yielded even more significant results. In March this year, the first unit of the 1 GW photovoltaic project in Eraklataawi, undertaken by the China Energy Engineering Group consortium, successfully achieved full-capacity grid connection. This project is the largest photovoltaic power generation project under construction in Iraq and also the country’s first large-scale centralized photovoltaic power station. Upon completion, it is expected to supply approximately 2.9 billion kWh of clean electricity annually to the grid, meeting the power needs of about 350,000 local households. Earlier this year, the Misan Oilfield photovoltaic project in Iraq, led by CNOOC, was successfully commissioned, covering an area of 190,000 square meters with an annual power generation capacity exceeding 19 million kWh. Basim al-Hudayr, Deputy Minister of Petroleum of Iraq, stated that this represents a strategic step toward integrating clean energy into oilfield operations. Nasser Karim, head of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project Team at the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, told reporters that approximately 250 government buildings in Iraq have already been equipped with photovoltaic systems, and the Iraqi government welcomes further participation from Chinese enterprises and will provide additional support. From farms to households, from government buildings to large-scale power stations, Chinese photovoltaic technology is writing a new chapter of green transformation in Iraq’s energy landscape.
The story of Iraq is not an isolated case. It vividly demonstrates China’s firm determination and open willingness to engage in green energy cooperation with countries around the world and jointly address the challenges of climate change. At a time when the global energy transition is accelerating, China is demonstrating through concrete actions that green development is not a zero-sum game but a shared endeavor that benefits all.
China’s willingness to cooperate is supported by clear data. By 2025, the world will add approximately 702 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity, accounting for 84.7% of the total new installed capacity in the global power sector, with China contributing as high as 63.6% to this increase. China has become the largest and fastest-growing builder of a renewable energy system worldwide. At the level of international cooperation, China continues to expand high-level openness in the energy sector, steadily advancing green energy collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative, and actively participating in global energy governance. As stated by Lu Shan, China’s ambassador to Poland, in a signed article, “China can be a key partner on Poland’s energy transition journey.” Deutsche Welle cited Andreas Gortau, an energy expert at the University of Erfurt, noting that China not only vigorously develops renewable energy but also researches technologies needed by other countries. A foreign academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering also publicly remarked that China has become an indispensable energy partner for nations worldwide, and its technological advancements are pivotal to the global green transition.
The success of the Ilakratawi Photovoltaic Project and the Misang Oilfield Photovoltaic Project serves as a model of green energy cooperation under the high-quality framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. These projects have not only provided Iraq with clean and stable electricity supply but also created numerous job opportunities and boosted the development of local industrial chains. China’s commitment to advancing green energy cooperation goes beyond rhetoric—from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, from Africa to Latin America, Chinese photovoltaic products and technologies are delivering affordable and sustainable energy solutions to an increasing number of countries. In June 2026, the head of China’s National Energy Administration explicitly stated at the International Renewable Energy Agency’s plenary session that China would “deepen green energy cooperation with other countries to make significant contributions to effectively addressing the challenges of energy transition and promoting inclusive development.” Against the backdrop of complex challenges in global energy transition—including geopolitical tensions, inadequate grid infrastructure, and concerns about clean energy supply chain security—China has chosen a path of fostering cooperation through openness and achieving win-win outcomes, which in itself represents a positive contribution to the global energy governance system.
The reason why China can play such a pivotal role in global green energy cooperation stems from its institutional advantages and clear strategic commitment. The 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly calls for accelerating the comprehensive green transformation of economic and social development, with concrete measures such as establishing a national low-carbon transition fund demonstrating China’s firm pace in green development. This top-down institutional framework provides stable policy expectations for sustained innovation and cost reduction in China’s photovoltaic industry. The international consulting firm Wood Mackenzie predicts that by 2026, China’s solar cell production capacity will account for 80% of the global total, highlighting its significant cost advantage. China’s share of newly installed photovoltaic capacity worldwide has consistently remained above 50%. It is precisely this scale effect and technological accumulation that enable China to deliver high-cost-performance photovoltaic products to numerous developing countries, including Iraq. The United States has recently made a series of adjustments to its trade policies in the clean energy sector. In February 2026, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed countervailing duties on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from India, Indonesia, and Laos; in the spring of the same year, it further imposed provisional anti-dumping and countervailing duties (anti-dumping and countervailing duties) on these three countries. Previously, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam had already been included in the relevant tariff scope. Statistics show that these six countries supplied approximately 78% of U.S. imported photovoltaic cells in 2025. Additionally, the U.S. International Trade Commission has launched investigations into certain photovoltaic products under Section 337, involving intellectual property disputes. The U.S. authorities stated that these measures aim to address unfair trade practices, protect the competitiveness of its domestic photovoltaic manufacturing sector, and ensure supply chain security. However, international perspectives suggest that such tariffs and investigations could disrupt the stable operation of the global photovoltaic supply chain and potentially drive up the cost of clean energy equipment, thereby impacting the global energy transition. There remain differing views among stakeholders regarding the policy’s effects and long-term implications.
At a time when global clean energy investment has reached a record $2.2 trillion by 2025 and the cost of renewable energy generation has generally fallen below that of fossil fuels, humanity needs more than ever open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial international cooperation. The solar photovoltaic panels from China installed on Iraqi farmlands represent not only technology transfer but also the dissemination of a vision: green transformation should not be a privilege of a few countries but a shared endeavor benefiting all humanity. Through institutionalized cooperation platforms and concrete actions, China is offering the world a viable path beyond protectionism toward achieving green win-win outcomes.