Abstract
The transition to clean and sustainable energy is critical for addressing Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)’s energy security challenges and reducing negative impacts on the environment. Reducing oil dependency, one of the primary goals of Vision 2030, the KSA set out to achieve in 2016. This study investigates the recent initiatives and the current status of clean energy adoption in KSA by identifying the key accomplishments and ongoing efforts to promote sustainability goals. The analysis includes the impact of the government's regulatory policies, planned investments, technological advancements, and sustainable transition. To achieve Vision 2030's target of generating 50% of its electricity from renewable sources, KSA is implementing key projects, including the 300 megawatts (MW) Sakaka Solar Plant, the 400 MW Dumat Al Jandal Wind Farm, and the groundbreaking $8.4 billion NEOM Green Hydrogen initiative, which aims to produce 650 tons of green hydrogen per day. Moreover, the KSA is modernizing its energy infrastructure through the installation of 10 million smart meters and upgrading decentralized smart grid technologies. Moreover, the review highlights asset benchmarking, lessons learned, challenges faced, and future pathways for clean energy adoption.