It fathom like one of President Donald Trump ’s mostdreaded nightmares : what if the human race ’s golf course were transformed into wind and solar farm ? A newfangled study has spotlight that the land occupy by golf courses in the 10 countries with the most courses could generate up to 842 GW of solar power and 659 GW of wind power – far exceeding the subsist installed content in many case .
If the US were to transition alone torenewable energyby 2035 , it would require M of square km for shoreward wind and even more for solar farm . In theory , the space use up by US golf trend alone could provide about 20 per centum of this capacity , the study conclude .
Another finding was that more estate is allocated to golf courses than renewable energy production across many countries , include the US and the UK .
Wind turbines in the North Sea loom over the Trump International Golf Links Aberdeen in Scotland.Image credit: richardjohnson/Shutterstock.com
preserve these lush greens comes at a steep environmental cost too – sapping water resources , demolish wildlife habitats , and bank heavily on plant food and pesticides . The researchers point out that golf courses occupy immense amounts of land yet answer a relatively small , often rich subset of the population .
“ golf game courses , which often lodge in immense country of country and are accessible only through exclusive membership , foreground significant land economic consumption conflicts . The concept of vitality justice debate that the benefits and burdens of energy supply and land use should be distributed equitably across high society . In this context , the general populace could do good if conclusion - God Almighty decide to employ these undivided golf courses for renewable vigor projects , ” the study author spell .
Some rural area have taken this musical theme seriously in the past . For illustration , Japan hasturned some of its disused golf courses , built in the eighties during a boom of involvement in the sport , into fields of solar control board .
While the researchers say they ’re not proposing that renewable muscularity company pounce in to seize the world ’s golf course , they do paint a picture their project highlights the penury for better discussions on land use and energy infrastructure .
" Our study does not urge for the direct conversion of golf course , but it highlights the Brobdingnagian electric potential for renewable energy on similarly big and underutilized areas , ” Dr Jann Weinand , lead source of the study and Head of the Integrated Scenarios department at the Institute Jülich Systems Analysis at Forschungszentrum Jülich , said in astatement .
" In light of the on-going debates about land use for renewables , it is essential to consider how we apportion kingdom overall – especially when substantial outer space is dedicate to activities that benefit only a circumscribed segment of the population , " added Dr Weinand .
The bailiwick is published in the journalEnvironmental Research Communications .
