Solar energy will require vast amounts of Iowa land

In his recent letter, Fred Hubler pointed out, “There is growing awareness that industrial wind and solar require large areas, which means energy must be transmitted over greater distances.” What he means by “greater distances’ can be understood if we consider what it would take to replace the once operating and reliable 600 megawatt (MW) Duane Arnold Energy Center with solar and batteries.

To reliably supply 600 megawatts 24 hours a day 365 days a year would require a 7,200 MW solar farm covering 36,000 acres and a 13,200 MW-hr battery covering 132 acres. This is for optimal weather conditions. However, here in Iowa, we can go for days without seeing the sun. This means that the above numbers are vastly underestimating the actual amount of land and transmission requirements for dependence on this renewable energy.

Chet Sullivan

Marion