Feasibility Assessment of Solar and Wind Energy Development in Taif, Saudi Arabia

This study assessed the feasibility of solar and wind energy development in Taif, Saudi Arabia, by evaluating renewable resource availability, technical performance, and economic feasibility to support sustainable energy planning under Saudi Vision 2030. An embedded mixed-methods descriptive–exploratory research design was employed, utilizing secondary data from reputable national and international renewable energy databases complemented by expert validation from ten renewable energy specialists. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, weighted mean, ranking, and composite mean, while qualitative responses were used to support the interpretation of the findings. The results indicated that Taif possesses considerable potential for renewable energy development, with solar energy demonstrating greater reliability and feasibility than wind energy because of its high solar irradiance and more stable resource availability. Although wind energy was also found to be feasible, its performance was more dependent on local terrain and site-specific environmental conditions. The findings further showed that renewable energy projects in Taif are economically viable based on favorable economic feasibility indicators and supportive national energy policies. In addition, rooftop photovoltaic systems were identified as an effective approach for reducing electricity demand and enhancing energy sustainability. The study recommends prioritizing solar energy development in high-resource areas, promoting hybrid renewable energy systems where appropriate, expanding rooftop photovoltaic applications, and conducting more localized assessments to support evidence-based renewable energy planning and investment decisions in Saudi Arabia.