The Libyan energy transformation Solar first

Right now, Libya in the power industry focus shift from oil to solar energy, hope to use their own advantages to attract European customers across the sea. April 15, Libya Power Minister Ali said Mohamed Maihelige, the two solar power station project bidding program will be announced soon. This decision to release a strong signal that the country intends to boost development of renewable energy.Libya plans by 2020, 20% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 this proportion increased to 40%.

Libya has mainly rely on oil and natural gas to generate electricity, and very little other than oil and gas energy portfolio, especially clean energy. As one of Europe's largest supplier of oil, Libya hope in the future to provide green electricity for customers in Europe and is being put into action.

Since the discovery of oil in 1959, Libya's economic development is mainly driven by the oil and gas, oil and gas profits accounted for 90% of the country's total revenue. From the beginning of 1970, renewable energy into the the Libyan energy policy planning, spending huge sums Libya monocrystalline solar panel R & D center in 1978.2007, Libya has set up a Renewable Energy Authority, aims to research and management of traditional energy sources and new energy industry investment planning, while balancing the proportion between the two.

Maihelige pointed out that Libya's oil reserves may be exhausted after 20-30 years, the Government should make early plans to deal with possible energy crisis, solar energy is a tricky choice. He added that Libya can take full advantage of the desert 5% of the solar energy resources, in addition to addressing domestic power shortage problem, but also to meet part of the electricity demand in Europe. From the Gaddafi era, the lack of electricity is always plagued Libya, especially in the southern region.


In fact, Libya has a soft spot for the solar industry is not surprising, because the country has abundant solar charge controller energy resources. North Africa is one of the global solar radiation is most intense areas, close to the Tropic of Cancer, Libya is a huge potential, more than 95% of the territory is desert and semi-desert areas, the domestic annual sunshine time is longer, the relative wind, solar more stable and sustainable.

Nottingham Trent University, UK researchers pointed out that the potential for solar power in Libya is more than five times the oil power. The researchers said that this country has always been upholding the traditional oil and gas resources, can use solar energy to meet their own demand for electricity, and is expected to become one of the world's electricity exporting country.

The data show that the Libyan year and longer daylight hours, coastal areas large amount of radiation is about 7.1 kWh / m 2 / day, while the southern region of about 8.1 kWh / square meter / day, compared with the United States radiation only 2.95 kWh / sq m / day.

Meanwhile, Libya has also called for foreign investors to invest in Libya's renewable energy industry. As early as 2009, the European Desert Plan, hoping to strengthen green cooperation with countries in the Middle East and North Africa, to wind and solar power in 2050, 20% of the electricity supply from the Middle East and North Africa.

With the end of the civil war in Libya, more and more oil giant to return to Libya, the country's traditional oil partners Italy's ENI (ENI) and British Petroleum (BP) and other European oil prices, both have their own research departments, virtually Libyan development of solar energy has brought opportunities for cooperation. It is understood that Eni excellent in concentrating solar energy technology and experienced, and are interested in development of Libya solar market.