Could solar power be the answer to Libya's energy problems?

At first glance, little about Libya would make it an enticing destination for the renewable energy industry.

Political violence has wracked the country for the last eight years, and two factions, the Government of National Accord (GNA) and the Libyan National Army (LNA), have been vying for the Libyan capital of Tripoli since April.

Power politics have just disguised Libya's potential, however: the country's unique location and size have led some experts to estimate that it could produce five times more energy from solar power than it does from its sizable oil reserves.

"Solar power can absolutely be implemented in Libya, given the climate conditions, and it can also give more independence to local realities," Dr Federica Saini Fasanotti, a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, told The New Arab.

In some ways, the Libyan Civil War is only increasing solar power's appeal. The conflict has damaged many of Libya's electrical grids, exacerbating frequent blackouts and forcing Libyan electricians to repair what infrastructure remains as rockets fall around them.

Clashes between rival militias, meanwhile, have led to power outages in Tripoli. Solar energy could alleviate some of these problems by providing Libyans with an additional source of electric power. 

"All aspects of social, economic, and political services are in ruins,"  said Dr Mustafa Attir, a professor of sociology at the University of Tripoli and director of the Center for Sustainable Development Research.

"Electrical facilities are only one area that has been subject to a great deal of destruction. Some power plants and power distribution units were damaged by direct rocket hits, military incursions, vandalism, or theft of equipment. Also, high-voltage power lines and power grids have been tampered with from time to time."

Libya has been struggling to maintain its power grids for several years. In 2015, Benghazi and Tripoli lost power for over ten hours a day while mobile service stopped in much of the country's east.

Solar power can absolutely be implemented in Libya, given the climate conditions, and it can also give more independence to local realities

The General Electricity Company of Libya, a state-owned enterprise straining to meet the demands of maintaining an electric power system in a war zone, has even sought assistance from the United States, which helped it form the Libya Electricity Sector Reform Task Force.

"For the time being, the two major sides – pro-GNA and LNA  – haven't targeted the power grid deliberately, but, nevertheless, it is subject to collateral damage," said Wolfgang Pusztai, director of Perim Associates and a former Austrian intelligence officer.

"Furthermore, the maintenance and repair teams are not able to work in the combat zones. There are a few incidents where militias attacked transformer stations and stopped generators from leaving the city because – the militias claim – the other cities are by far better off with regard to the power cuts."

The GNA, the only Libyan government recognised by the United Nations, hopes to mitigate its challenges with electricity generation by getting seven percent of its power from renewable energy by 2020 and 10 percent by 2025.

The Misrata Free Trade Zone, the only free trade zone in Libya, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the American company IQ Power to jumpstart these efforts. This initiative could begin to combat the blackouts frustrating Libyans.

"Solar power – if it is going to be developed in Libya – will definitely help solve a complex problem from which residents in this country have been suffering a lot for the last eight years," noted Attir.

"Climatically speaking, the country is an ideal place for such development."

Supplementing the GNA's ambitious plans, the UN has spearheaded efforts to expand the use of solar power in Libya.

The UN Development Programme has installed solar panels in 15 Libyan hospitals in a bid to support Libya's ailing healthcare system.

Solar power – if it is going to be developed in Libya – will definitely help solve a complex problem from which residents in this country have been suffering a lot for the last eight years

Austrian and Italian companies are also lending their expertise to the country's development of and research on solar power. These contributions will likely reduce Libyans' reliance on gas-guzzling generators. 

"Houses, shops, department stores, hospitals, and government offices depend on generators, which produce huge amounts of environmental and auditory pollution," said Attir.

Pointing to the UN-backed hospitals as an example of solar power's potential in Libya, experts express optimism about the future of the renewable energy industry in the country.

A study by the University of Nottingham predicted that Libya could harness the equivalent of seven million barrels of oil a day from the sun by covering just one percent of its territory in solar panels. 

"If security would allow for the installation of solar power stations to cover at least local demand, in particular in more remote areas, this would certainly be a very good idea," Pusztai told The New Arab.

"This would also take a little bit of the pressure off the high-voltage grid." 

While solar power could change Libya's trajectory, the Libyan Civil War will likely restrict the expansion of the renewable energy industry there.

Libyan officials have already readjusted their expectations once, asserting in 2013 that they intended to get around 20 percent of Libya's power from the sun alone by 2020. For now, political violence has dampened the GNA's ambitions. 

"The problem is complex and must be articulated in a more organic way," concluded Saini Fasanotti.

"During a civil war, it's very difficult to develop any improvement for the daily life of the citizens. When any infrastructure can be hit by the enemy, who will invest in that?"