We're there! Renewables now cheapest unsubsidized electricity in U.S.

. . . Lazard found the cost of unsubsidized utility-scale thin-film solar PV to range from $46 to $56 per megawatt-hour, while the range for wind was $32 to $62 per MWh. In comparison, the range for natural gas was $48 to $78 per MWh, while coal was pegged at $60 to $143 per MWh.

However, because it focuses solely on cost, the Lazard analysis requires some contextualization. One factor it leaves out is the cost of climate change, inclusion of which would certainly favor solar and wind over fossil fuels, notes Vox. But Vox also notes that the Lazard analysis leaves out the fact that wind and solar are intermittent sources that don't produce the same amount of electricity at all times. That is why there is significant interest in pairing renewable-energy sources with energy-storage systems that can collect excess electricity for later use. . . .

Click to expand...