With record low auction prices of USD 1. 1 to 3 cents per kWh today, solar PV and onshore wind continuously undercut even the cheapest new coal option without any financial support.
Are solar PV projects reducing the cost of electricity in 2022?
Between 2022 and 2023, utility-scale solar PV projects showed the most significant decrease (by 12%). For newly commissioned onshore wind projects, the global weighted average LCOE fell by 3% year-on-year; whilst for offshore wind, the cost of electricity of new projects decreased by 7% compared to 2022.
Are renewable power generation costs still competitive in 2023?
Renewables remain competitive despite fossil fuel prices returning closer to historical cost levels, concludes Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2023, released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the Global Renewables Summit during the UN General Assembly in New York today (24th September).
In 2022, the global weighted average levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from newly commissioned utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV), onshore wind, concentrating solar power (CSP), bioenergy and geothermal energy all fell, despite rising materials and equipment costs.
Is solar a viable alternative to fossil fuels?
IRENA's new report shows that after decades of falling costs and improving technology particularly for solar and wind, the socio-economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy deployment are now uniquely compelling. Solar PV's global costs in 2023 were 56% lower than fossil fuel and nuclear options.
Is renewable power a viable source of least-cost new power generation?
Renewable power generation has become the default source of least-cost new power generation. The progress made in 2023 is a significant step toward transitioning to a system based on energy efficiency and renewable technologies.
Chart courtesy of Lazard. As you can see in the chart above, which visualizes version 17 of Lazard's cost of energy comparison across the electricity sector's main power sources, utility-scale solar power and onshore wind power are by far the cheapest sources for new electricity generation.