The Possibility of Developing Existing Residential Buldings by Installing Photovoltaic Modules Case Study: Libya – Zuwarah

Abstract

Libya is completely dependent on non-renewable energy sources (oil and natural gas that increase the problem of global warming) to meet its needs for electric energy. After its decline in its oil production and the destruction of some power stations, especially after 2011, the electricity sector in Libya witnessed a very significant decline, as it could not meet the needs of citizens in all sectors, including the residential sector.
 On the other hand, Libya has good solar radiation, as the average solar radiation at the horizontal level is 7.1 kW/m2 in the coastal areas and 8.1 kilowatt / square meters in the southern regions for nine hours per day, and the estimated amount of solar energy available annually is 3.5×109 gig watt hours, which makes it one of the countries that can use solar energy to help meet the increasing demand for electrical energy, and together, this energy is not utilized sufficiently.
 This work aims to study the possibility of developing existing residential buildings by installing photovoltaic modules the photovoltaic modules have been integrated with existing buildings in Zuwarah city in different ways: on the building roof to perform functional role and facades for aesthetic role. After studying the existing residential buildings in the city, two samples were chosen as case studies to apply the integration of photovoltaic units to them using Sketch Up software, and the PV Syst software, to design the PV system.
 The study clarified the role that photovoltaic systems play in the sustainable architectural formation through their ability to achieve its rules and principles, and the possibility of developing existing residential buildings in Libya - Zuwara by integrating PV with it. As well as its contribution to solving the electricity crisis in Libya.