SOLAR RADİATİON İN IRAQ AND THE POSSİBİLİTY OF USİNG İT İN THE PRODUCTİON OF ALTERNATİVE ENERGY
The elements of alternative energy available in Iraq are multiple, foremost among which is solar energy, as it has an environmental qualification to benefit from this important vital resource, especially as it has recently witnessed a growing demand for energy with the escalation of construction and reconstruction in cities and governorates, with the improvement of the citizen´s standard of living and what It resulted from the increased need for electric energy, machine fuel energy, transportation, and household fuel. There are several studies conducted on solar energy in Iraq, but it is in a limited scope, and the reason for this is that it needs huge sums, including some that require advanced technology and experience, and Iraq has not taken serious steps regarding the use of this energy in the production of electricity, similar to the experiences of other countries, although it is It was one of the first Arab countries that took an interest in this field, as the first solar energy unit was established in Baghdad in 1977, which resulted in subsequent years the project of constructing Abu Nawas apartments (experimental), which is the first Iraqi experience to exploit solar energy, but what Iraq did By implementing it after 2003, it does not exceed a number of projects related to street lighting in some cities by adopting solar energy cells, but he has not yet seriously considered building an integrated system to generate electricity by adopting this important source. The most important recommendations reached by this study were to pay attention to research centers specialized in this field and to provide the necessary capabilities to carry out research projects and implement them on the ground, especially agricultural and industrial projects that suffer from energy shortages as well as service institutions in the health and education sectors.
Keywords: Solar Radiation, Solar Energy, Iraq's Climate.