Solar energy potential for hot water in the hotel sector in Libya

Hotels are considered one of the most energy consumers in the building sector and are thus responsible for quite large amounts of carbon dioxide emissions. The major part of this energy is utilized for water heating, space heating and cooling, and lighting. This study aims to estimate the energy potential of hot water in the hotel sector of Libya, and the opportunities of saving an important part of this energy through utilizing solar energy. The study depends on distributing questionnaires to a big sample of hotels over different cities in Libya. The information that was gathered from the questioners with other information from different sources is analyzed and projected all over Libya. The outcome of this study is to estimate a theoretical and technical potential of using solar energy in providing hot water to the hotel sector of Libya. Results have shown that there is a high potential of hot water in the hotel sector of Libya with over 18.54 (GWh/year while the technical potential of using solar energy for heating water is 25,386 m² of collector area. The savings in using solar energy technology for water heating in the hotels in Libya is 1.3 million (L.D/year).