Saudi Arabia Solar Power: Generation, Share and Trend
Saudi Arabia generated 8.23 TWh of electricity from solar in 2024, 1.8% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 32nd largest solar power producer in 2024 of the 180 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Solar supplied 7.0% of the world's electricity in 2024. These are annual statistics for 2024; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- Saudi Arabia generated 8.23 TWh of electricity from solar in 2024.
- Solar supplied 1.8% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024.
- Saudi Arabia was the 32nd largest solar power producer in 2024 among the 180 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- Saudi Arabia's solar generation in 2024 was 39 times the 2019 level of 210 GWh.
- Saudi Arabia's solar generation in 2024 was 165 times the 2014 level of 50.0 GWh.
- 2024 was Saudi Arabia's highest year for solar generation in Ember's records, which start in 1985.
- Saudi Arabia's solar share in 2024 was below the world share of 7.0%.
- Saudi Arabia had 6.20 GW of solar generating capacity in 2024.
Key Figures, 2024
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Solar generation | 8.23 TWh | 2024 · Ember |
| Share of Saudi Arabia's electricity | 1.8% | 2024 · Ember |
| World share of solar | 7.0% | 2024 · Ember |
| Rank by solar generation (each country's latest year) | 32 of 180 | 2024 · Ember |
| Solar capacity | 6.20 GW | 2024 · Ember |
Solar Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2024Annual statistics through 2024, GWh
| Year | Solar |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 0 TWh |
| 1986 | 0 TWh |
| 1987 | 0 TWh |
| 1988 | 0 TWh |
| 1989 | 0 TWh |
| 1990 | 0 TWh |
| 1991 | 0 TWh |
| 1992 | 0 TWh |
| 1993 | 0 TWh |
| 1994 | 0 TWh |
| 1995 | 0 TWh |
| 1996 | 0 TWh |
| 1997 | 0 TWh |
| 1998 | 0 TWh |
| 1999 | 0 TWh |
| 2000 | 0 TWh |
| 2001 | 0 TWh |
| 2002 | 0 TWh |
| 2003 | 0 TWh |
| 2004 | 0 TWh |
| 2005 | 0 TWh |
| 2006 | 0 TWh |
| 2007 | 0 TWh |
| 2008 | 0 TWh |
| 2009 | 0 TWh |
| 2010 | 0 TWh |
| 2011 | 10.0 GWh |
| 2012 | 30.0 GWh |
| 2013 | 40.0 GWh |
| 2014 | 50.0 GWh |
| 2015 | 50.0 GWh |
| 2016 | 50.0 GWh |
| 2017 | 70.0 GWh |
| 2018 | 160 GWh |
| 2019 | 210 GWh |
| 2020 | 910 GWh |
| 2021 | 990 GWh |
| 2022 | 1.22 TWh |
| 2023 | 3.13 TWh |
| 2024 | 8.23 TWh |
Annual statistics through 2024, % of generation
| Year | Saudi Arabia | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1986 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1987 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1988 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1989 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1990 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1991 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1992 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1993 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1994 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1995 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1996 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1997 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1998 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 1999 | 0.0% | n/a |
| 2000 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2009 | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2010 | 0.0% | 0.2% |
| 2011 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
| 2012 | 0.0% | 0.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 2014 | 0.0% | 0.8% |
| 2015 | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| 2016 | 0.0% | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 0.0% | 1.8% |
| 2018 | 0.0% | 2.2% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 2.6% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 3.2% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | 3.7% |
| 2022 | 0.3% | 4.6% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | 5.6% |
| 2024 | 1.8% | 7.0% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8.23 TWh | 1.8% | 7.0% | 6.20 GW |
| 2023 | 3.13 TWh | 0.7% | 5.6% | 2.44 GW |
| 2022 | 1.22 TWh | 0.3% | 4.6% | 440 MW |
| 2021 | 990 GWh | 0.3% | 3.7% | 440 MW |
| 2020 | 910 GWh | 0.2% | 3.2% | 410 MW |
| 2019 | 210 GWh | 0.1% | 2.6% | 110 MW |
| 2018 | 160 GWh | 0.0% | 2.2% | 80 MW |
| 2017 | 70.0 GWh | 0.0% | 1.8% | 30 MW |
| 2016 | 50.0 GWh | 0.0% | 1.3% | 20 MW |
| 2015 | 50.0 GWh | 0.0% | 1.1% | 20 MW |
Full year by year history for Saudi Arabia
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.