A thorough investigation of renewable energy development strategies through integrated approach: A case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Recently, Saudi Arabia has been facing rising energy demand due to industrial development and population growth. While having vast reserves of fossil fuels, this country has formulated comprehensive plans to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and develop its renewable sources to meet its energy demand sustainably with less environmental impacts. Research has shown the excellent potentials of Saudi Arabia in terms of renewable energies (RE) including solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric and geothermal. The goal of this research was to select the appropriate RE development strategies for Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis was used to formulate a number of strategies for this country, weighting criteria were determined using the best-worst method (BWM), and the strategies were ranked using Additive Ratio Assessment in Gray environment (ARAS-G). The weighting results showed that the most important sub-criteria for the evaluation of RE development strategies for Saudi Arabia are “power generation investment cost,” “effects on the local climate and ecosystems,” and “local climatic potentials,” in that order. The strategy ranking results showed that the best RE development strategy for Saudi Arabia is to pursue low-cost renewable energy generation in different parts of the country by supporting scientific studies and research &development, attracting investment, and promoting the use of advanced equipment.