3 ms·

Is energy independence and lower land use priced in?

• pfdietz 2y ago
  Land is a small fraction of the cost of a renewable energy source (save for biomass), especially in lesser populated regions.
• dalyons 2y ago
  There is a lot of empty practically free land in the world. Also, it is estimated that it would take about ~7 million acres to power the US entirely with solar. The US currently uses about 40 million (!!!!) acres for corn for ethanol. Land is just not a problem, at all. https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/how-much-land-power-us-solar/#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20report%20from,14%25%20efficiency%20for%20solar%20modules https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/how-much-land-power-us.... https://frontiergroup.org/resources/ethanols-outsized-place-us-energy-system/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20according%20to%20a,5%25%20of%20the%20nation's%20energy https://frontiergroup.org/resources/ethanols-outsized-place-....
  • neglesaks 2y ago
    Land is not a problem in land-rich nations like Russia or Canada, of the US for that matter. It is however a problem in Europe where distances are shorter, population density is higher and so are the land values and thus both direct & shadow costs associated with infrastructure development.
    • pfdietz 2y ago
      Average price of arable land in the EU in 2022 was a shade over 10,000 euros/hectare. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=File:F1average-prices-arable-land-eu-2022.png https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php... At this price, the cost of land is quite small compared to the cost of a PV field on that land.