Beyond energy output: A thermoeconomic land-use assessment of renewable power in Spain

The large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources raises critical concerns regarding land-use efficiency and environmental impact. This study presents a thermoeconomic framework for assessing the land-use efficiency of solar photovoltaic, wind, and bioenergy systems. in Spain. By integrating energy analysis, economic evaluation, and life-cycle CO2 emissions. A novel comparative model developed to quantify the energy yield, financial viability, and environmental footprint per unit of land area is presented developed and applied for the case of Spain. The findings reveal that while solar and wind energy exhibit higher energy output per hectare, while bioenergy crops demonstrate significant carbon sequestration potential, challenging conventional sustainability metrics. The findings reveal that while solar and wind energy in Spain exhibit significantly higher energy output (99,72 MWh/ha·year and 123,31 MWh/ha·year, respectively) but bioenergy crops can fix up to 28 tCO2/ha·year, positioning them as a viable alternative in carbon-negative strategies. The proposed methodology highlights the importance of a multidimensional assessment in shaping sustainable energy policies and maximizing land-use efficiency in renewable energy planning and provides a decision-making tool could be a help for policymakers and investors to optimize land allocation for renewable energy expansion. This research highlights the importance of a multidimensional assessment in shaping sustainable energy policies and maximizing land-use efficiency in renewable energy planning. The findings reveal that while solar and wind energy in Spain exhibit significantly higher energy output per hectare (99,722 MWh/ha·year and 123,310 MWh/ha·year, respectively) but bioenergy crops can fix up to 28 tCO2/ha·year, positioning them as a viable alternative in carbon-negative strategies.