Kulak, a rural village in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, has become the country’s first fully solar-powered community, marking a landmark step in tackling chronic energy shortages and climate vulnerability. Launched by the Erbil-based Rwanga Foundation on May 20, the project provides 24/7 electricity independent of the national grid and supports agricultural irrigation and training via solar systems.
Facing severe environmental challenges—including droughts, water scarcity, and desertification—Iraq is ranked among the world’s top five climate-vulnerable nations by the United Nations. Rwanga Foundation president Idris Nechirvan Barzani emphasized that Kulak represents a scalable model aiming for nationwide energy self-sufficiency, “one village at a time.”
This initiative is part of the broader Green Kurdistan campaign, which plans to extend solar-powered solutions throughout Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030, with anticipated collaboration between regional authorities and international partners.
