Erbil-Based Rwanga Foundation Launches Iraq’s First Fully Off-Grid, Solar-Powered Community
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, the Erbil-based Rwanga Foundation proudly announced the completion and official launch of the Kulak Solar Village, Iraq’s first fully off-grid, solar-powered community. This groundbreaking project marks a new era in sustainable development and climate resilience for both the Kurdistan region and Iraq as a whole.
The village, now being inaugurated, stands as a shining example of innovation – incorporating renewable energy systems, sustainable agriculture, and climate adaptation practices. This initiative comes at a crucial time as the region faces mounting environmental challenges, including extreme heatwaves, water scarcity, and rapid desertification.
“This project demonstrates that we can protect our environment, empower our people, and build a future based on resilience, dignity, and hope. Our vision is to see this model expand throughout Iraq – one village at a time – until sustainability becomes the norm, not the exception,” stated Idris Nechirvan Barzani, founder and president of the Rwanga Foundation.
The Kulak Solar Village is entirely powered by solar energy, providing round-the-clock electricity. Solar-powered irrigation may also be possible, and plans are in place to offer hands-on training programs in regenerative agriculture. The project serves as a replicable model designed to equip communities facing the harsh realities of climate change with the tools for energy independence, food security, and ecological restoration.
With Iraq recently ranked by the United Nations as the fifth most vulnerable country to climate change, this project presents a scalable solution to the urgent environmental and humanitarian crises facing the region.
The Kulak Solar Village is now fully operational, and plans are underway to expand the model across Kurdistan and central Iraq by 2030. This effort will be carried out in collaboration with regional authorities and international organizations, serving as the cornerstone of Rwanga’s wider Green Kurdistan campaign.
This milestone builds on Rwanga’s long-standing environmental work, which includes the planting of over 200,000 trees across the region in the past five years, in addition to ongoing investments in education, youth empowerment, and climate resilience.
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