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

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.