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Solar Energy Development and the Environment
Argonne National Laboratory’s Environmental Science Division (EVS) has over a decade of experience in developing siting and design solutions to facilitate solar energy deployment while protecting environmental resources
Introduction
Photovoltaic (PV) solar energy provides many advantages as part of our national energy mix, including providing emission-free energy with low water use and minimal maintenance, boosting energy independence, and providing energy bill savings. However, the recent expansion of ground-mounted utility-scale PV solar energy development across the U.S. has increased land use and habitat pressure because these facilities often occupy 500 acre or larger areas. Therefore, sustained development of solar energy will depend on finding solutions that synergize the co-benefits of energy production, ecosystem services, and land uses. Argonne National Laboratory’s Environmental Science Division (EVS) has over a decade of experience in developing siting and design-solutions to facilitate PV solar energy deployment while protecting environmental resources. This website highlights the relevant work EVS has conducted to minimize the environmental impacts of PV development and optimize environmental co-benefits.
Solar Energy Trends
Ground-mounted utility-scale solar energy electricity generation has seen tremendous growth in the past decade (EIA 2024; see chart). According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), there was approximately 125 GW (nameplate capacity) of utility-scale solar electricity generation in operation in the U.S. at the end of 2024.
2021 DOE Solar Futures Study
As solar development continues to expand across the U.S., there is a growing need to make these developments more environmentally compatible. EVS scientists contributed to the 2021 DOE Solar Futures Study by examining land use requirements associated with future projected solar energy development scenarios. To achieve a carbon-neutral electrical grid by 2050, analyses in this publication revealed that as much as 3,000 GW of utility-scale solar is needed by 2050, requiring approximately 10 million acres of land. Despite the seemingly large land requirement to meet the 2050 solar energy target, this represents roughly 0.5% of available surface land in the United States.
