How much land is needed for wind energy?
Sources:
The land footprint required for wind energy can be substantial. According to an analysis mentioned by , covering the U.S.'s electricity needs entirely with wind energy would require around 900,000 square kilometers, roughly twice the size of California. This large land requirement poses significant challenges, especially in rural areas, where residents often oppose the presence of large wind turbines due to visual blight, noise pollution, and impacts on property values and health 1.
from the offers a different perspective, suggesting that land use for wind and solar could be optimized. By repurposing the land currently used for biofuels in the U.S., for instance, it would be possible to generate enough solar energy to power the country three times over. This highlights that land use decisions are crucial and that alternative uses can significantly reduce perceived land shortages for renewable energy 2.
Overall, while wind energy requires significant land, exploring efficient land use strategies and re-evaluating current land applications can mitigate some of these challenges.
RELATED QUESTIONS
