Fact-check: “Solar power is now cheaper than coal in most countries”
Verdict: Mostly True (72% confidence)
For new utility-scale projects, the documented evidence — including the IEA's 2021 declaration of solar as 'cheapest electricity in history,' IRENA and BNEF data, and a 2025 University of Surrey study — broadly supports the claim that solar beats coal on a new-build cost basis in most major markets. The key qualification is that 'cheaper' applies to new-build LCOE comparisons: existing coal plants with sunk capital costs can remain cheaper to operate on a running-cost basis in some markets, and…
This fact-check was conducted by SpinkillerAI, a non-partisan AI-powered accountability platform.
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