Overcoming Obstacles to Renewable Energy Development in Libya: An MCDM Approach towards Effective Strategy Formulation

Abstract

Renewable energy development in Libya faces numerous obstacles that hinder its progress. This paper aims to identify these obstacles and propose effective strategies to overcome them. Based on the literature review and expert opinions, eight obstacles were identified: lack of infrastructure, dependence on fossil fuels, lack of a stable investment climate, political instability, weak regulatory framework, varying environmental conditions, lack of public awareness, and technological barriers. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method was used to calculate the weights of these obstacles. The results showed that lack of infrastructure was the most critical obstacle, followed by dependence on fossil fuels. Seven strategies were suggested to overcome these obstacles: encouraging private sector investment, providing financial incentives, strengthening the regulatory framework, capacity building, promoting public awareness, technology transfer, and international cooperation. The combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) method was used to rank these strategies based on their effectiveness. The results showed that encouraging private sector investment was the most important strategy to overcome the obstacles. The findings of this paper can support decision-makers in Libya to take the right decisions and allocate resources effectively to overcome the identified obstacles and promote renewable energy development. Additionally, the paper provides insights into other countries facing similar challenges in the development of renewable energy.