Iraq Launches First Fully Solar-Powered Village

Iraq’s first fully solar-powered village has officially opened in Kulak, delivering off-grid electricity and sustainable infrastructure in response to the growing impact of climate change across the region.

The project, developed by the Erbil-based Rwanga Foundation, went live on May 20 and aims to serve as a model for renewable energy deployment and climate adaptation in vulnerable rural communities. Kulak Solar Village operates entirely on solar power, providing continuous electricity and infrastructure to support solar-driven irrigation and future training in regenerative agriculture.

Rwanga Foundation President Idris Nechirvan Barzani said the project was part of a broader effort to promote environmental self-sufficiency and strengthen rural livelihoods. “Our vision is to see this model grow across Iraq—one village at a time—until sustainability becomes the standard,” he said.

The initiative comes as Iraq faces increasing environmental stress, including prolonged heatwaves, water shortages, and desertification. The United Nations recently ranked Iraq as one of the world’s five most climate-vulnerable countries.

Kulak Solar Village forms a key part of the foundation’s Green Kurdistan campaign, which aims to expand the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030 in cooperation with regional governments and international partners.

Rwanga’s wider environmental efforts have included planting over 200,000 trees and investing in educational and youth programmes aimed at long-term climate response.