Libya is facing an increasing deficit in electrical energy supply which needs great efforts to find new and renewable alternative sources of power. Solar thermal electricity is one of the most promising and emerging renewable energy technologies to substitute conventional fossil fuel systems. A review of the research literature of solar thermal electricity in Libya is presented in this article. The state of the art of these technologies including design, operation principles, and the global market is demonstrated. Detailed reviews of research activities that have been conducted by Libyan researchers or institutions are presented. It has been found that Libya as a country needs a strategic plan and more research efforts in order to adopt these new technologies and put them in production mode.