How do energy systems measure land use?

Multiple researchers have attempted to quantify land use by energy systems; three frequently used metrics are: ecological footprint , land use intensity , and power density . First, their calculations, basic equations, data used and units are provided and strengths and weaknesses of each method are outlined.

What is land use intensity of electricity?

Land use intensity of electricity (LUIE) showing total direct and indirect land use (ha/TWh/y). We show median, mean, and interquartile range (IQR) for the LUIE, along with the number (n) of observations for each power source.

How much land use is used for electricity from storage?

Note that the land use impact for electricity from storage is higher than all land use impacts except biomass and hydro. Still, only a portion of the storage land use (say 0.1%) would be allocated to one GWh of renewable energy.

What is the power density of a land use?

Still, this value is chosen since it is the most updated datum from governmental sources. Assuming a capacity factor of 0.3 gives a land use intensity of 4.6e4 m 2 /GWh and a power density of 2.47 W e /m 2.

How do energy systems affect land use?

The land footprint of energy systems can displace natural ecosystems, lead to land degradation, and create trade-offs for food production, urban development, and conservation. For example, a recent analysis showed that energy sprawl is now the largest driver of land-use change in the United States .

What is the land footprint of energy?

The land footprint of energy is seldom considered in regional and global assessments of decarbonization pathways, land-use change, and biodiversity threats, with the occasional exception of particularly land-intensive sources like bioenergy [4 – 10].