Saudi Arabia Pushes Solar, Wind to Boost Clean Energy

Saudi Arabia is accelerating its shift to clean energy in 2026, advancing a series of large-scale solar and wind projects that are steadily raising the Kingdom's renewable capacity. Installed renewable capacity stands at about 12.3 GW in early 2026, with solar power the main contributor and five major solar plants expected to add roughly 5.76 GW to the grid this year.

Operational renewable capacity in the first half of 2026 ranges between 8 and 12.3 GW, while the total pipeline of awarded and planned projects now exceeds 60 GW. The build-out supports the Kingdom's Vision 2030 target of around 130 GW of renewable capacity, including roughly 58.7 GW of solar and 40 GW of wind.

For 2026, the Kingdom plans to award around 14 GW of new capacity, mostly solar PV and wind, through tenders under the National Renewable Energy Program managed by the Saudi Power Procurement Company. Round 7 of the program includes 5.3 GW of projects: 3.1 GW of solar across four plants in regions such as Al Jouf, Hail, Aseer and Madinah, and 2.2 GW of wind through the Bilghah Wind IPP (1.3 GW) and Shagran Wind IPP (900 MW) in the Madinah region.

Financing has already been secured for about 15 GW of new solar and wind capacity, covering five solar and two wind projects due to come online mainly in 2027–2028. Major utility-scale plants such as Sudair Solar PV (1.5 GW) and Shuaibah Solar PV (600 MW) are also contributing significantly to national solar output.

In the northwest, نيوم's green hydrogen project is designed with 4 GW of combined solar and wind generation—about 2.2 GW solar and 1.6 GW wind—targeted for completion around mid-2026, with first product expected in 2027. For residents, the push means greater investment in clean power infrastructure and a more diversified energy mix across the country.

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