Hybrid renewable energy systems in Saudi Arabia: exploring solar-wind integration with fuel cell hydrogen storage

The integration of renewable energy sources is essential for meeting the growing energy demands while mitigating environmental impacts, particularly in regions like Saudi Arabia. This study explores the potential of a solar-wind hybrid energy system integrated with hydrogen fuel cell storage to address the limitations of standalone solar and wind power generation in Saudi Arabia. Using MATLAB and Simulink, we model and simulate energy production from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines in Riyadh and Neom, under real historical climate conditions. The study focuses on optimizing the energy mix between solar and wind, while minimizing the required hydrogen storage capacity to ensure a stable and cost-effective energy supply. The results demonstrate that Neom’s constant wind profile, with an average wind speed of 2.95 m/s, promotes consistent energy generation and minimizes hydrogen storage requirements compared to Riyadh, where fluctuating wind speeds (average 3.31 m/s) lead to higher storage costs. Additionally, under standard test conditions (1000 W/m2 and 25 °C), the 100 kW PV system generated a maximum output of 88 kW, whereas in real conditions, both regions yielded roughly 52 kW due to lower irradiance and MPPT limitations. This study highlights the benefits of hybrid renewable systems for improving energy security and reducing reliance on fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia, while also offering insights into cost-effective storage solutions for regions with variable renewable energy resources. © The Author(s) 2025.