Methodological and reporting inconsistencies in land-use requirements misguide future renewable energy planning

Increasing wind and solar power shares in energy systems is vital to a net-zero transition, but concerns are raised about their land-use requirements (LURs) and associated impacts. Despite the abundant literature on renewable energy and LURs, existing estimates vary widely, which can misguide future renewable energy planning. This review evaluates 6,421 LUR estimates for wind power, solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP) to explore the reasons behind observed variations and propose solutions to reduce them. To simplify usability and direct comparison of many estimates, we develop a harmonized terminology for LURs. Methodology and definitions affect variability for all technologies, and PV and CSP technological characteristics, along with solar PV temporal trends, further influence LUR estimates. To facilitate accurate assessment of land needed for the energy transition, we recommend best practices for measuring, reporting, and applying LURs, including the choice of parameters and methodologies and, importantly, the strengthening of the currently poor data documentation.