Solar Energy Development in Saudi Arabia: A Global Comparative Assessment of Technologies, Environmental Impacts, and Economic Performance

This research examines the global solar energy landscape and technological advancements in photovoltaic systems, providing a comprehensive comparison with Saudi Arabia’s solar energy sector. The study analyzes data from 2020 to 2026, focusing on installed capacity, technological innovations, and solar resource potential. Global solar capacity reached 2392 GW by the end of 2025, while solar generation reached 3378 TWh in 2026, contributing over 10% of global electricity generation. Saudi Arabia, despite possessing exceptional solar irradiance of approximately 2300 kWh/m2 annually, has only recently accelerated its solar deployment, reaching 11.9 GW by the end of 2025. The research highlights emerging technologies, including perovskite–silicon tandem cells achieving 35.5% efficiency, bifacial panels dominating 90% of new installations, and advanced heterojunction cells reaching 25.4% efficiency. It also compares the environmental and economic impacts of solar energy in Saudi Arabia and other selected countries worldwide. The study finds that the floating photovoltaic system in the UK provides the greatest mitigation of CO2 emissions and the shortest payback time, whereas Saudi Arabia’s rooftop PV system ranks second in CO2 emissions reduction and offers a very high reduction in net present cost (NPC). However, the exact results depend on retail electricity tariffs, the technology used, and system efficiency. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 targets 58 GW of solar capacity, positioning the Kingdom as a future leader in solar energy deployment by leveraging its world-class solar resources.