Assessment of sustainability in energy of Iraq, and achievable opportunities in the long run

Abstract

This work study the current and future energy issue such as the energy policy revolution, the power sector expansion strategy and the corresponding environmental impact in Iraq. It aims to introduce the capabilities of renewable and nuclear energy and deals with the environmental impact of renewable and nuclear energy, especially in greenhouse-gas mitigation. Also review the capabilities of renewable and nuclear energy in Iraq. Long-range Energy Alternative and Planning (LEAP) System was used to analyse the electricity generation including the future expansion plan and simulates the environmental impact for every technology used in electricity generation. The demand on energy in Iraq for next 15 years was predicted, which will increase rapidly. It requires multiplicity in electricity generation technologies and the utilization of non-fossil resources in electricity generation to overcome the chronic shortage in electricity supply since 1991. Oil and its derivatives for power generation is the main stay in the energy policy for Iraqi government. Attempts in exploitation of renewable energy did go beyond the generation of hydroelectric power.