1. How “Green” are Renewables? Land Usage Comparison: Nuclear Energy versus Renewable Energy Sources Relative Land Areas Required for Energy Sources Hydroelectricity 588 sq. miles per 1000 MW(e) Wind 57.9 sq. miles per 1000 MW(e) Photovoltaic 19.3 sq. miles per 100 MW(e) Nuclear 1.5 sq. miles per 1000 MW(e) Power Density of Energy Sources Nuclear 648 MW(e) per sq. mile Photovoltaic 51.8 MW(e) per sq. mile Wind 17.3 MW(e) per sq. mile Hydroelectricity 1.70 MW(e) per sq. mile The above figure shows the relative land masses required for each type of energy source to produce 1000 MW(e). This figure was developed using the data contained in an article by S.M. Rashad published in peer-reviewed journal, Applied Energy. The darker blue shows the expanse of land required for hydroelectric generation. The light blue represents the land area required for wind. The orange area represents solar power. And the red area shows that of nuclear. The figure on the right shows the energy densities of each type of energy source. The above figure is the top view of the three-dimensional object shown on the right. The volume of each different color cylinder corresponds to the same total energy capacity, 1000 MW. Renewables are commonly lauded as of late as the solution to the impact of human activities on the environment. But, what many do not realize is that these renewable energy sources actually increase the impact that energy production has on the environment. The reason that this is true is clear by the figures shown here. Land usage is one of the most commonly overlooked indicators of environmental impact when the argument is made in favor of renewables. Lets Look at how these renewables compare to nuclear power. Hydroelectricity is probably the most well-entrenched forms of renewable energy sources. Lake all of the energy sources discussed here, hydroelectricity produces no emissions during normal operation. Hydroelectricity also has the advantage of being available regardless of the weather conditions, which cannot be said of our other renewable energy sources. However, the convenience of high power availability and zero emission production are overshadowed by the huge amounts of land needed to operate a full scale production facility, with a 1000 MW facility requiring 588 sq.miles. Another commonly praised renewable energy source is wind energy. Like hydroelectricity, wind energy is emission free. However, unlike hydro electricity, wind energy requires the cooperation of the weather to produce. This effect results in wind energy being highly impractical in most regions. The only way to mitigate this effect is to increase the power production when the wind is blowing. The only way to do that is to increase to area covered by the facility. Thus, we have that a 1000 MW wind facility requires around 58 sq. miles. Solar power is another form of renewable energy that requires certain conditions to produce power. As such, it cannot produce at its installed capacity consistently. So, like wind energy this results in very low energy density. The average 1000 MW solar facility requires about 20 sq. miles of land. So, with all of this information leading to the conclusion that using renewable energy sources does not reduce humanity’s impact on the environment but in fact increases it, is there any clear path forward? By now it should be clear that nuclear energy is the only form of energy we can harness that has both zero emissions and reduces the amount of land use required for power production. If you are interested in this possibilities but still have other reservations regarding nuclear energy, go to http://rampages.us/radcliffen/energy-production-in-america/ to read more.