Beyond Compliance: Elevating ESIA Standards for a 300MW Solar Project in Iraq

When environmental, social, and geopolitical risks converge—only strategy-led insight can ensure execution without compromise.

At SgurrEnergy, our Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) for a 300MWAC Solar PV Project in Karbala, Iraq, wasn’t just a regulatory checkbox—it became a strategic lever to de-risk development, unlock stakeholder confidence, and future-proof energy infrastructure in a high-stakes setting.

From day one, the project demanded a comprehensive view—ecological proximity to the Al Razzaza Protected Area, active security threats, hydrological vulnerabilities, and evolving climatic pressures presented a complex canvas. SgurrEnergy’s multi-disciplinary team of environmental engineers, biodiversity experts, chemists, social scientists, and GIS specialists collaborated on-ground and remotely to extract actionable intelligence from every variable.

Sustainability in Desert Terrain

Our baseline climate models accounted for SSP 2-4.5 and SSP 5-8.5 scenarios—ensuring long-term resiliency in a rapidly evolving desert climate. With corrosive soil close to a saline lake, we established the corrosion category using ISO 9223/9224 standards, directly influencing structural design with recommended coating thicknesses for critical PV components.

Biodiversity-First Engineering

Spotting deceased fishes along the Al Razzaza Lake shoreline triggered a deeper biodiversity review. Using IFC PS6 and IBAT frameworks, we identified high salinity and industrial pollution as stressors, crafting a mitigation plan inclusive of habitat protection, water conservation awareness for labour, and greenbelt restoration.

Crucially, protection measures were integrated for species like the Leopard Barbell Fish and migratory birds such as the Sociable Lapwing—right down to tower spacing adjustments and anti-collision diverters.

Engineering Through Instability

Amidst region-specific security concerns, SgurrEnergy implemented a proactive Security Management Plan aligned with IFC PS4, including perimeter zoning, secure staff transport, and coordinated stakeholder engagement. Despite local agencies being hesitant, we executed full-site monitoring with imported instruments and international-level safety protocols.

Stakeholder consultations extended to Ministry officers, army personnel, and community labourers, reinforcing trust and refining local context into our risk frameworks.

Defending Energy Yield Against Adjacent Risk

When news of a planned waste treatment plant emerged just west of the solar boundary, we conducted dispersion modelling for pollutants and shading analysis. Recommendations included a minimum 2km buffer and elevation-based distance planning to protect panel efficiency and air quality—ensuring uninterrupted yield and reduced O&M complexity.

The Strategic Edge

By embedding long-range ecological, social, and operational risk mitigation from the start, this ESIA didn’t just greenlight a project—it elevated its credibility. SgurrEnergy’s insight-driven model empowered stakeholders to make bold, future-ready decisions while preserving biodiversity, ensuring local security, and aligning with global ESG expectations.