Floating solar photovoltaics offshore Lebanon : a preliminary feasibility study

Abstract

Continuous increase in energy demand coupled with limited unconventional energy sources have shifted the global interest towards sustainable energy sources and environmental welfare. This has resulted in the booming of renewable energy markets. One of the most promising systems within this field is the solar photovoltaics systems as its benefits, amongst others, are energy generation and lack of GHG, gaseous and particulate emissions. Yet, since the solar PV systems require lands to be implemented on, worldwide researchers and investors have been studying and implementing “Floating Solar PV systems” which can be installed on different types of water bodies. Floating solar PV systems might become an ultimate solution for Lebanon as it is a small country with high competition for land and increasing population and energy demand. Lebanon suffers from a huge energy gap, power shortages, outdated networks and power plants, in addition to the lack of energy sector strategies and policies. The objective of the thesis paper is to perform a preliminary feasibility study of implementing a floating solar PV system in Lebanon. The study will be carried out by designing a case study of implementing a floating solar system at the offshore area facing the American University of Beirut’s (AUB) in Beirut. The feasibility will be determined from an environmental, financial, and policy perspectives. The paper will discuss Lebanon’s current energy policies, the environmental and climatic conditions, and the expected cost of implementing a FPV. The aim of developing such a system on AUB’s offshore area is to create a model which can be replicated and used in different areas of Lebanon’s offshore as a viable energy transition option towards bridging the wide energy gap between the demand and supply on one hand, and towards increasing the share of renewable energy in Lebanon’s energy mix on the other.