Design of a Solar-Powered Lighting System for the City of Benghazi

By: Abdelhafid Altajouri , Khaled Almenfi , Marai Sweisi , Salem Alsuwai’i , Saeed Alhuwaidi

Libyan authority for scientific research

Issue: |Special Issue on the Benghazi Reconstruction Conference 2023 |

article language: Arabic

Abstract:

The Libyan electricity network suffers from heavy burdens due to the continuous increase in loads, in addition to the environmental and economic impacts caused by the ongoing burning of oil and gas for power generation, without benefiting from their export as valuable resources. On the other hand, effective alternatives such as solar energy are available. This study aims to design a solar-powered lighting system to replace conventional street lighting in neighborhoods and areas damaged during the war on terrorism. The study included calculating the saved energy, avoided emissions, and the economic revenues generated by using solar energy. It also calculated the light distribution on road surfaces and the spacing between poles according to the standards adopted by the General Electricity Company of Libya. Furthermore, the payback period and investment lifetime of the project were estimated. The findings revealed that using a solar-powered lighting system for the streets of Benghazi is an economically and environmentally feasible solution that helps reduce the burdens on the national electricity grid. Keywords: Solar Energy – Street Lighting – Benghazi – Power Grid – Economic Feasibility.