Utility-Scale Solar Costs Rise 18% but Remain Cheapest Power Source

The cost of unsubsidized utility-scale solar rose by 18% to $40-$98/MWh, driven by higher capital costs, interest rates, tariffs, and supply chain pressures, a Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy+ analysis has found. However, even with these hikes, solar remains the cheapest new-build generation technology globally, even when factoring in auxiliary firming costs due to the intermittent nature of solar energy. Levies on solar panels, batteries, and inverters, particularly affecting equipment from A