Review of advancing hybrid renewable energy systems: The strategic role of solar cooling and multi-source integration in arid climates

• Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) are increasingly recognized as a key strategy for achieving sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure, particularly in regions facing high cooling demands and variable energy resources. • This review explores recent technological advancements in the design and deployment of HRES, with a focus on integrating solar cooling technologies into multi-source configurations. • A notable case study is the University of Jordan's successful implementation of solar adsorption cooling, showcasing real-world viability under arid climate conditions. • The review also addresses existing challenges, capital cost, technical complexity, and policy gaps, while outlining actionable pathways for broader adoption, including standardization, capacity building, and green financing models. • Ultimately, this manuscript underscores the transformative potential of HRES with integrated solar cooling in achieving climate resilience, energy security, and environmental. Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems (HRES) with a specific focus on solar cooling applications in arid climates. By reviewing 70+ peer-reviewed articles from 2013 to 2025, the paper analyzes configurations involving photovoltaic (PV), concentrated solar power (CSP), biomass, oil shale, and battery storage technologies. The University of Jordan serves as a case study, where solar adsorption cooling systems using silica gel and zeolite have been implemented and validated using TRNSYS under Amman’s climate. These systems achieved outlet water temperatures of 16.8°C and a COP ranging from 0.14 to 0.34. The analysis also highlights enabling tools such as artificial intelligence (AI), digital twins, and smart grid controls that improve system optimization and load matching. Jordan's high solar irradiance (over 1800 kWh/m²/year) and national energy strategy position it as a viable environment for expanding hybrid solar applications. The study concludes that integrating solar cooling into HRES can enhance energy resilience, reduce fossil fuel dependence, and contribute significantly to decarbonization in regions with high cooling demand.