Scaling Efficiency: How Libya is Powering Oil with Solar

Libya is aiming high: 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil production and nearly 1 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas by 2030. To reach these ambitious targets, the country is aiming to tap into reliable, flexible and cost-effective power generation, especially for remote oil fields and processing facilities. Increasingly, by leveraging the country’s 3,500 hours of annual sunshine, solar energy is being positioned as the catalyst to unlock Libya’s hydrocarbon potential while laying the groundwork for a greener energy future.

Field-Level Solar: Powering Oil Operations Smarter

Traditionally, Libya’s oil fields relied heavily on diesel generators – expensive, inflexible and environmentally taxing. The country’s parastatal National Oil Corporation (NOC) is now demonstrating that small, strategically placed solar systems can change that equation. Take the Zallaf Pilot Solar Plant, for instance. Scheduled to go online by Q3 2026, this modest 1 MW-3 MWp installation will power the NOC office near the Erawan Field. While it might sound small, it’s a proof of concept: cutting diesel use, lowering emissions and providing reliable energy directly to the field’s operations.

The NOC isn’t stopping there. Upcoming projects at Tibitsi and the Arabian Gulf Oil Company, featuring multi-megawatt solar arrays paired with battery storage, promise to save millions of liters of diesel annually while stabilizing electricity supply.

“Oil and gas are the basis of the economy but using solar and wind energies can reduce the consumption of fuel for power generation and enable diversification. This will free up more energy to drive electrification and support industrial development,” explained the NOC’s Renewable Energy Department Manager Aiman Eisa at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES 2026) in Tripoli this year.

These pilot projects provide a model that other operators – like Repsol and OMV – could replicate across Libya’s sunny, energy-rich regions.

Large-Scale Solar: The Sadada Project and Beyond

While field-level systems address immediate operational needs, Libya is also exploring the scale of national ambition. TotalEnergies’ Sadada project, a 500 MW solar plant near Misrata, is poised to become the country’s first large-scale solar facility. Once fully operational, its 1.2 million panels will generate roughly 152 GWh annually – enough to support both domestic electricity demand and oil production operations.

“This would unlock hundreds of millions of dollars of investment and could be a benchmark for establishing the solar supply chain in the country,” said Philippe de Cacqueray, Vice President & Country Delegate for Libya at TotalEnergies at LEES 2026.

Challenges remain, however. Libya’s grid instability, limited technical capacity in remote regions and ongoing financial uncertainties could complicate deployment. But the long-term potential is significant: wind energy in coastal areas, green hydrogen from seawater electrolysis and a domestic solar supply chain could all complement oil operations and help diversify the energy mix.

Solar as a Strategic Lever

So, can solar power really help Libya reach 2 million bpd by 2030? The evidence suggests yes. By reducing dependence on diesel, stabilizing electricity for field operations and supporting large-scale energy infrastructure like Sadada, solar can directly boost oil and gas output while creating a foundation for future renewable growth. By tapping into solar, Libya can run its oil fields more efficiently, save money and build a stronger, greener energy future.