[SMM PV News] Trial Operations Begin at Iraq's 1 GW Basra Solar Plant

Australia's large-scale solar and wind assets generated 5.0 TWh of clean energy in February 2026, an 11% year-on-year increase. New South Wales led total output, while Western Australia hosted the 'top-performing' individual assets by capacity factor, including the 100 MW Merredin Solar Farm (41.2%) and Warradarge wind farm (60.5%). Crucially, battery energy storage systems are rapidly scaling. Monthly grid discharges jumped 266% to 245 GWh, supported by an 8.2 GW utility battery pipeline. Meanwhile, New Zealand's utility solar and wind output grew 28% to 294 GWh.

Greece expects to curtail up to 3.7 TWh of renewable energy in 2026, a 75% increase from 2025, pushing curtailment rates to 12% of total green generation. Last year's grid congestion and negative prices already caused ~20% revenue losses for PV producers. While pairing solar with battery storage is the clear solution, domestic banks are currently refusing to finance these projects due to a lack of reference sites. Despite 900 MW of subsidized storage not yet operational, investors are now targeting a 4.7 GW pipeline of 'merchant-style' standalone batteries. However, flat domestic demand and unresolved regulatory frameworks continue to pose risks.

The Iraqi Customs Authority slashed tariffs on solar systems—including PV panels, inverters, cables, and lithium batteries—from 33% to 5%. This move aligns with the Central Bank's recent IQD 6 billion ($4.6 million) loan initiative to boost clean energy uptake. Despite high solar irradiance, Iraq's cumulative capacity was just 42 MW at the end of 2024, a lag officials attribute to 'weak awareness'. However, progress is expected through upcoming utility-scale developments, including the 300 MW Karbala plant and TotalEnergies' planned 1 GW project.