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

• 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
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2008.05.035

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.