Kulak in Iraq Becomes First Village to Run Fully on Solar Energy

Erbil-Based Rwanga Foundation Launches Iraq’s First Fully Off-Grid, Solar-Powered Community

Erbil, Kurdistan Region – The Rwanga Foundation, based in Erbil, is pleased to announce the completion and official launch of the Kulak Solar Village on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. This groundbreaking project marks a significant step towards sustainable development and climate resilience for both the Kurdistan region and Iraq as a whole.

The village, which will be inaugurated today, serves as a model of innovation, incorporating renewable energy systems, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation practices. This initiative arrives at a critical time as the region faces escalating environmental challenges, including extreme heatwaves, water scarcity, and rapid desertification.

Founder and President of the Rwanga Foundation, Idris Nechirvan Barzani, states, “This project demonstrates that we can protect our environment, empower our people, and build a future rooted in resilience, dignity, and hope. Our vision is to see this model replicated across Iraq, one village at a time, until sustainability becomes the norm, not the exception.”

The Kulak Solar Village is the first off-grid, solar-powered community in Iraq, solely powered by solar energy, providing round-the-clock electricity. The project also plans to offer hands-on training programs in regenerative agriculture and explore the possibility of solar-driven irrigation. This model aims to empower communities facing the harsh realities of climate change with the necessary tools for energy independence, food security, and ecological restoration.

With Iraq recently ranking as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change by the United Nations, this project serves as a scalable solution to the urgent environmental and humanitarian crises facing the region.

The village is now fully operational, with plans to expand the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030. This effort will be carried out in partnership with regional authorities and international organizations, forming the cornerstone of Rwanga’s larger Green Kurdistan campaign.

This achievement builds upon Rwanga’s extensive environmental work, including the planting of over 200,000 trees in the region over the past five years, in addition to ongoing investments in education, youth empowerment, and climate resilience.

This groundbreaking project is distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.