Evaluation of a Solar Parabolic Trough Power Plant under Climate Conditions in Libya

Driven by continuing increase in energy demand and environment impacts of fossil fuels, Libya becomes very interested in the investment of its renewable energy resources. Libya is located in the middle of North Africa. The vast majority of the country is located in the Sahara desert which is characterized by its high potential of solar energy. Concentrating solar power plants represents one of the most promising technologies that can be used as an alternative to the conventional energy sources, especially in the climate of Libya. This paper presents an evaluation study of a 100 MW parabolic trough solar power plant for electricity generation. This plant will be located in the North typical site of Libyan weather. The system Advisor Model (SAM) software which was developed by National Renewable Energy Libratory (NREL) is utilized to assess the energetic and economic performances of the plant. Primary results of the performance of the plant showed encouraging indications for these types of solar plants in Libya.