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Countries across the world use more land for golf courses than wind or solar energy
Sustainable business and solutions
Published 26 February 2025
Date (DD-MM-YYYY)
30-08-2025 to 30-08-2026
Available on-demand until 30th August 2026
Cost
Free
Education type
Article
CPD subtype
On-demand
Description
Land use is a critical factor in the siting of renewable energy facilities and is often scrutinized due to perceived conflicts with other land demands. Meanwhile, substantial areas are devoted to activities such as golf, which are accessible to only a select few and have a significant land and environmental footprint. Our study shows that in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom, far more land is allocated to golf courses than to renewable energy facilities. Areas equivalent to those currently used for golf could support the installation of up to 842 GW of solar and 659 GW of wind capacity in the top ten countries with the most golf courses. In many of these countries, this potential exceeds both current installed capacity and medium-term projections. These findings underscore the untapped potential of rethinking land use priorities to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
Contact details
Email address
Telephone number
+44 117 929 7481

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