Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction

Ali Q. Al-Shetwi

Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction

Ali Q. Al-Shetwi | International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization | Vol 12, Issue 01 | pp. 31-70 | ISSN: 2582-4120

Abstract

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is undergoing a major shift toward sustainability under Vision 2030, targeting 58.7 GW of renewable energy (RE) by 2030 and major green hydrogen projects, such as NEOM’s 4 GW plant, to cut oil use by 500,000 barrels daily and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of KSA’s energy transition, assessing the energy landscape, RE development, environmental impacts, and climate change mitigation efforts. Using a mixed-method approach, it combines quantitative assessments of energy consumption, RE capacity, and GHG emissions with qualitative insights into policy developments, technological advancements, and barriers. While KSA has made notable progress, existing studies often focus narrowly on specific technologies or sectors, lacking comprehensive analysis of recent initiatives, environmental trade-offs, policy updates, and regulatory frameworks. This review addresses these gaps by evaluating KSA’s current energy mix, key drivers of energy transition, RE deployment progress, major projects, economic benefits, and climate strategies. The paper further examines environmental impacts, emissions profiles, and mitigation efforts while identifying major challenges, including infrastructure limitations, policy and regulatory gaps, economic dependencies, socio-cultural factors, and technological constraints. Strategic recommendations are proposed to accelerate RE integration, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen climate mitigation efforts, emphasizing infrastructure investment, regulatory reform, innovation, and cross-sectoral collaboration. By offering an integrated and holistic perspective, this review aims to support policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders in navigating the complexities of Saudi Arabia’s energy transition, contributing to broader global efforts toward climate resilience and sustainable development.

Keywords

climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy, emission reduction

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How to cite this article

APA

Al-Shetwi, A. Q. (2026). Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction. International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization, 12(01), 31-70.

MLA

Al-Shetwi, Ali Q.. “Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction.” International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization, vol. 12, no. 01, 2026, pp. 31-70.

Chicago

Ali Q. Al-Shetwi. “Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction.” International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization 12, no. 01 (2026): 31-70.

Vancouver

Al-Shetwi AQ. Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction. International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization. 2026;12(01):31-70.

BibTeX

@article{AlShetwiAQ2026,
author = {Ali Q. Al-Shetwi},
title = {Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction},
journal = {International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization},
year = {2026},
volume = {12},
number = {01},
pages = {31--70},
issn = {2582-4120},
url = {https://journalspub.com/publication/ijrec/article=25801}
}

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Ali Q. Al-Shetwi | International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization | Vol 12, Issue 01 | pp. 31-70 | ISSN: 2582-4120

Abstract

Keywords

climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy, emission reduction

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References

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@article{AlShetwiAQ2026,
author = {Ali Q. Al-Shetwi},
title = {Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction},
journal = {International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization},
year = {2026},
volume = {12},
number = {01},
pages = {31--70},
issn = {2582-4120},
url = {https://journalspub.com/publication/ijrec/article=25801}
}

Ali Q. Al-Shetwi | International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization | Vol 12, Issue 01 | pp. 31-70 | ISSN: 2582-4120

Abstract

Keywords

climate change, sustainable development, renewable energy, emission reduction

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References

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@article{AlShetwiAQ2026,
author = {Ali Q. Al-Shetwi},
title = {Energy Transition for Sustainable Development in Saudi Arabia: Renewable Energy Growth and Emission Reduction},
journal = {International Journal of Renewable Energy and its Commercialization},
year = {2026},
volume = {12},
number = {01},
pages = {31--70},
issn = {2582-4120},
url = {https://journalspub.com/publication/ijrec/article=25801}
}

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