Photovoltaic power plant for the southern region of Libya

This paper compares, technically and economically, a gas turbine generator to be built in the southern region of Libya, with a photovoltaic (PV) power plant of the same capacity (100 MWe), as a clean and inexhaustible alternative. Solar irradiance in the region of 2300 kWh/m2 annually, and sunshine duration is 3500 h/year. Consideration is given to long-term planning for power generation, limitation of fossil fuel resources in the country and technical experience to be gained in the field of solar power generation. It is the only viable option for the post oil era. Over the plant's life of about 20 years, the PV power plant is found to be more economic in this region, even without taking into account the society's cost due to the emission of more than a half million tonnes of air pollutants annually.