Saudi Arabia’s energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, as renewable-energy ambitions are taking shape on an increasingly larger scale.
A Clean Shift
According to the Saudi Arabia Renewables Tracker, released by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), cumulative operating renewable-energy capacity has grown more than 63-fold since 2020, reaching 19.3 GW in 2026.
The rapid rise comes as the Kingdom advances its broader energy transition, with renewable power playing an increasingly prominent role in its ambitions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
The momentum mirrors a broader transformation at the heart of Saudi Vision 2030, as the Kingdom reshapes its power sector around expanding generation capacity and adopting cleaner technologies, including carbon-capture readiness.
The Road to 2030
By 2030, the Kingdom seeks to build 100–130 GW of renewable-energy capacity and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
Remarkably, the figures stand as a testament to the large scale of Saudi Arabia’s evolving energy landscape.
KAPSARC noted that such figures reflect “the Kingdom’s promising future in the energy and sustainability sector.”
Meanwhile, the tracker signals further growth ahead, with additional renewable-energy projects anticipated to be announced as the Kingdom accelerates efforts to achieve its 2030 objectives.
Solar at the Forefront
More boldly, solar power has emerged as the dominant force, representing 81% of the capacity tracked by KAPSARC, while wind accounts for the remaining 19%.
Nearly a third of the tracked capacity is already installed, while 37% is under development and another 32% is moving through the tendering stage, pointing to a project portfolio advancing across multiple phases at once.
Together, these projects stretch across the Kingdom, spanning Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Al-Qassim, Hail, Aseer, Jazan, the Eastern Province, Al-Jouf, Najran and the Northern Borders.
The dashboard records levelized energy costs ranging from 1.04 cents per kWh at Shuaibah 1 to 2.98 cents at Layla. Several large solar plants still under development fall toward the lower end of that range, with costs of around 1.09 to 1.36 cents per kWh. The Najran project, for instance, is listed at 1.09 cents per kWh.
New Capacity Ahead
More tellingly, the expansion is also visible in the projects planned for 2026.
The tracker lists eight projects totaling 7.7 GW, with six already recorded as installed.
The projects include Alghat wind in Riyadh, with 600 MW, and Haden solar in Makkah, with 2 GW. Khushaybi solar in Al-Qassim has a capacity of 1.5 GW, while Muwayh solar in Makkah adds another 2 GW.
Tabarjal solar in Al-Jouf has a capacity of 400 MW, while Waad Al Shammal wind in the Northern Borders adds 500 MW.
Two projects remain under development: Henakiyah 2 solar in Madinah, with 400 MW, and Rabigh 2 solar in Makkah, with 300 MW.
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