[lldata]

A quick calculation of what it would take to replace the dam with solar panels:

According to wikipedia the dam produces 1052MW. Let's call it 1GW. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosul_Dam

According to quora you need about 10000m2 or one 1ha to produce 1MW. So 1000 * 10000m2 = 10km2 to produce 1GW.

I wonder how big the lake is? Could solar panels installed in the drained lake - theoretically - provide the same or more energy than the dam?

Of course energy storage is a major part of water power and it is not taken into account above. On the other hand a decentralized power grid is one of the major advantages of solar (especially in an unstable country) and that is not taken into account either.

[impostervt]

But the damn isn't there just to provide power. Remember back when it was built Iraq exported power, in the form of oil.

It's also there to regulate the flow of the river, which commonly floods the surrounding, crop-growing region.

[lldata]

Yes, but according to what I can read the lake is filled to 8km3 capacity, with 3km3 capacity for flood regulation.

So wouldn't a much smaller dam be sufficient for flood regulation?

[etrevino]

The problem isn't just one of power. It's also (ironically) flood management. That reservoir allows Iraq to store water from years of plenty (and prevent downstream flooding) for years of drought when that extra water will be needed for farming, drinking, etc.

[VLM]

You'd need twice as many panels because panels generate very little power at night whereas the dam continues to run.

Also you'd need a battery bank to hold half a days worth of electricity. You could try pumped storage... oh wait this is kinda the problem here isn't it, so that's not happening.

Theoretically a drought would have more sunny days and less water, so solar and dam do loosely speaking work together although the coupling isn't that tight for a long river.