Towards Strategic Plan for Wide Spreading of Solar Water Heaters in Libya

Abstract

Solar water heaters have been in use for decades in many countries in the world that have less favorable climatic conditions for solar energy as compared with Libya. However, still there is no usage of such technologies in the country. This could be attributed to many factors including, among others, lack of clear policy and/or serious plans to establish such technology, cheap prices of conventional energy, and lack of environmental awareness.The Center for Solar Energy Research and Studies (CSERS) of Libya has developed an excellent research and development program on national scale for domestic solar water heating systems. The national program started in the early 1990’s aiming at increasing public awareness. The program utilizes different ways such as pilot projects, studies, workshops, and reports to convince people and decision- makers of Libya about this subject and its benefits.This paper attempts to suggest a strategic plan (win-win situation between government and people) for encouraging and helping wide spread (replacement) of solar water heaters nationwide based on economic and environmental pointers in favour of the replacement.The suggested strategic plan is to provide 25% of existing houses in 2013 with solar water heating systems by 2022, with governmental subsidy of up to 65% of the system cost. The study has shown that every L.D. paid by the government will return with at least 2 L.D. after 10 years of investment without considering the money saved from the fuel savings, power plant installations to fulfill the demand, and the environmental benefits.

Resident Behavior and Activity Pattern Influencing Electrical Consumption in Household Air Conditioners in Tripoli - Libya

“…In Libya, the energy sector witnessed an increasing growth during the period from 2003 to 2010, where the produced energy in gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2003 was about 18,943 GWh, and it rose to 32,558 GWh in 2010, and it was The percentage increase in the last year between 2009 and 2010 to 7.2%, as energy production increased from 30,337 GWh in 2009 to 32,558 GWh in 2010, and the energy sold was about 20,602,217 GWh. 43% of this energy was produced by gas stations, 37% from dual-cycle plants, and 20% from steam plants [11].…”

Review on Solar Space Heating - Cooling in Libyan Residential Buildings

“…The lifestyle has evolved, and people have become used to many electrical devices in their daily life activities, such as air conditioners, water heaters, lights, space heaters, refrigerators, washing machines, etc., which are reflected in a significant increase of electricity consumption per capita. Here, the domestic air conditioning load represents 18.35% of the total residential electricity consumption, as shown in Figure 2 [4].…”

Investigation of a Solar Thermal Driven Refrigerated Warehouse in Tripoli-Libya using TRNSYS

“…Referring to [4], the demand of Residential Buildings represents one third of the total power being consumed in the Libyan market, where 35.35% of this partition is utilized for air conditioning and refrigeration. However, the industrial and agricultural sectors are employing heat pumps for preserving food, drugs or other processes and they represent 21.22% of the total power being sold.…”