A number of countries use more land for golf fields than for “green” energy

A study conducted at the Julikh System Analysis Institute showed that in countries such as the United States and Great Britain, the land area allocated for golf fields is much larger than under objects of renewable energy. In ten countries with the largest number of golf fields, the area occupied by them could be used to accommodate sunny and wind stations with a total capacity of up to 842 GW and 659 GW, respectively, which in many cases exceeds the current power.

Scientists noticed that golf fields require a large amount of water and chemical treatment, which has a serious effect on nature. In contrast, objects of renewable energy, such as solar and wind stations, offer a more stable use of land and at the same time contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar stations require approximately 0.01 km² of land for each megavatt (MW), while windmills – about 0.12 km² per IMT, although only a small part of this area is used to install turbines and the necessary infrastructure. Also, the possibility of using built -up lands, such as golf fields, for renewable energy, is often overlooked, which emphasizes the need to revise land use priorities.

Researchers argue that their work does not indicate that golf fields should be directly transformed into renewable energy objects, but it focuses on the great potential of renewable energy sources in the same extensive and insufficiently used territories. In conditions of discussions about land use for renewable energy sources, it is important to reconsider how humanity as a whole distribute land resources, especially when significant areas are allocated to activities that serve a relatively small, often rich population.