Techno-economic feasibility study of Solar Water Heating system in Libya

Abstract

Most of the generated electricity in Libya is produced from fossil fuel. As the energy demand will escalate dramatically in the near future, more oil and gas are consumed and hence more CO 2 emissions. Therefore for a sustained development, the renewable energy must share in the electricity market. Because of the location of Libya in the highest sunny belt, the solar energy is capable of providing some or all the energy required. The residential loads constitute around thirty percent of the total load demands and the electrical water heaters forms 10% of the total energy consumption. As the country is struggling to satisfy its energy demands the domestic solar water heaters can play a great role in reducing the energy consumption. In this paper, a proposal for replacing the conventional water heaters with the domestic solar water heaters (DSWH). The technical and economic feasibility of DSWHs are investigated using RETScreen software. The conventional electrical water heater and the solar water heater are compared in terms of electricity saving, capital cost, maintenance cost, and CO 2 emissions. A case study for 5000 houses in Benghazi has been selected. Over 20 years the cost of the solar water heaters is 49,875,000 LD while the cost of the conventional electrical water heaters is 214,050,000 LD which is four times higher. The results from the paper show that the DSWH is economical feasible in Libya and can result in fuel saving and CO 2 emission reduction.