Future Study of Renewable Energy in Libya

Abstract

Energy is an essential component of any economic development, and electric power is a fundamental indicator of a country's economic and technological progress. Libya is currently wholly dependent on oil and natural gas to produce electricity. In the wake of dwindling fossil fuel reserves, rising costs of this type of fuel, and negative environmental impacts such as air pollution, acid rain, and associated global warming impacts, renewable energy has gained much attention. Libya has a high potential to benefit from electric power generation from renewable energy, such as solar, wind, and biomass energy. In particular, PV technology appears to be the most reliable in Libya's rural areas for its convenient use and economic appeal. Wind energy is an indirect form of solar energy. Between 1-2% of the solar radiation that reaches the Earth then converted into wind energy. The use of wind energy is also becoming competitive compared to conventional sources of energy. Libya has high wind potential. This massive amount of wind is distributed across the country. In 2013, the Libyan government launched the Strategic Plan for Renewable Energy 2013-2025, which aims to contribute 7% of renewable energy to the electrical energy mix before 2020 and 10% by 2025. It will come from wind power, concentrated solar energy and solar PV, And solar heat.