Countries across the world use more land for golf courses than wind or solar energy

TL;DR

This study reveals that countries like the US and UK allocate more land to golf courses than to renewable energy, highlighting untapped potential for solar and wind energy development.

Contribution

It quantifies the land used for golf versus renewable energy, emphasizing the opportunity to repurpose golf land for renewable energy infrastructure.

Findings

More land is used for golf than renewable energy in key countries.

Golf land could support up to 842 GW of solar and 659 GW of wind capacity.

Potential renewable capacity exceeds current and projected installations in these countries.

Abstract

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.