Professor Dr. Firas Mohammed Tuaima, Head of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Baghdad, accompanied by a high-level delegation from Wuhan University, China, concluded an extensive field tour in the governorates of Sulaymaniyah and Erbil, which took place from 14 to 18 January 2026. The visit was conducted within the framework of a joint research project to establish a “Solar Energy and Smart Grid Research Center” at the department.
The visit aimed to strengthen research and training cooperation between the two universities, facilitate the transfer and exchange of expertise, and review successful experiences in the Kurdistan Region in the field of solar energy. It also sought to support the logistics and technologies required for the joint laboratory, thereby contributing to consolidating the department’s position as a leading regional center in sustainable energy.
The tour included a variety of key stops, most notably:
- Governmental and academic institutions: Specialized meetings were held at the Erbil Electricity Directorate and the Sulaymaniyah Electricity Directorate, in addition to visits to the Departments of Electrical Engineering at the University of Sulaymaniyah and Koya University to enhance academic cooperation.
- Major industrial projects: Visits were made to the Coca-Cola plant with a capacity of 4.4 MW, the Family Mall project with a capacity of 2.5 MW, and the Delta Cement Plant with a capacity of 50 MW, which was established by the Chinese company Sinoma Suzhou.
- Private sector and specialized companies: Field visits were conducted to Big Power and Sun Progress, companies specializing in energy solutions, as well as a visit to the Erbil Cable Company (ECC).
The joint project aims to apply smart grid concepts and effectively integrate renewable energy sources into the national grid, benefiting from advanced Chinese technologies and Iraqi academic expertise, with the center serving as a nucleus for the development of sustainable energy solutions in Iraq.
