Land-use requirements and the per-capita solar footprint for photovoltaic generation in the United States

In this report, we estimate the state-by-state per-capita “solar electric footprint” for the United States, defined as the land area required to supply all end-use electricity from solar photovoltaics (PV). We find that the overall average solar electric footprint is about 181 m 2 per person in a ba...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy policy 2008-09, Vol.36 (9), p.3531-3543
Main Authors: Denholm, Paul, Margolis, Robert M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Comparative analysis
Distribution
Ecological footprint
Ecology
Economic data
Electric energy
Electricity distribution
Energy
Energy consumption
Energy economics
ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
Estimates
Ethanol
Exact sciences and technology
General, economic and professional studies
Land use
Land utilization
Methodology. Modelling
Natural energy
Per capita
Photovoltaic cells
Power generation
Power supply
pv
Resource allocation
Rocket launches
SOLAR ENERGY
Solar photovoltaics
Solar power
Studies
U.S.A
United States
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Summary:In this report, we estimate the state-by-state per-capita “solar electric footprint” for the United States, defined as the land area required to supply all end-use electricity from solar photovoltaics (PV). We find that the overall average solar electric footprint is about 181 m 2 per person in a base case scenario, with a state- and scenario-dependant range from about 50 to over 450 m 2 per person. Two key factors that influence the magnitude of the state-level solar electric footprint include how industrial energy is allocated (based on location of use vs. where goods are consumed) and the assumed distribution of PV configurations (flat rooftop vs. fixed tilt vs. tracking). We also compare the solar electric footprint to a number of other land uses. For example, we find that the base case solar electric footprint is equal to less than 2% of the land dedicated to cropland and grazing in the United States, and less than the current amount of land used for corn ethanol production.
ISSN:0301-4215
1873-6777
DOI:10.1016/j.enpol.2008.05.035