This project introduces PyPSA-Libya, a high-resolution, open-source energy system model designed to explore optimal transition pathways for the Libyan power sector and evaluate large-scale cross-border hydrogen export to Europe. Built as a country-specific extension of the global PyPSA-Earth framework, the model provides a transparent and reproducible benchmark for national decarbonization.
The study investigates two primary frameworks: an electricity-only capacity expansion analysis comparing a zero-emission constraint against an unconstrained baseline at a 36-cluster resolution, and a sector-coupled hydrogen export study assessing the levelized cost of exporting 70 TWh/year of hydrogen under varying technological and policy scenarios, including a 100 EUR/tonne CO2 carbon tax regime.
Key Findings & Insights
- Renewable Potential: High-irradiance southern inland nodes and coastal corridors heavily favor solar PV and onshore wind buildouts.
- Storage & Flexibility: Full domestic decarbonization significantly increases short-duration battery storage requirements to manage diurnal solar ramps.
- Blue vs. Green Hydrogen: Under carbon pricing regimes, steam methane reforming with carbon capture (SMR-CC) frequently out-competes pure green electrolysis, offering a lower-cost compliance pathway for cross-border export utilizing Libya's domestic hydrocarbon infrastructure.
- Water Sourcing: Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination co-located at coastal clusters satisfies water requirements with a negligible impact on overall system costs and energy demand.
Interactive Dashboard
You can explore the interactive results, spatial maps, and scenario metrics directly via the embedded dashboard below:
Open the interactive dashboard in a new tab
Code & Data Availability
The complete model code, input data time series, scenario configuration scripts, and optimization routines are publicly available in the PyPSA-Libya GitHub Repository.
Note: For best experience, view this interactive dashboard on a desktop or tablet device.