Fact-check: “Solar power is now cheaper than coal in most countries”
Verdict: Mostly True (72% confidence)
For new utility-scale solar versus new coal plants, the claim is well-supported by major authoritative sources. The IEA stated in its World Energy Outlook 2020 that solar PV is 'consistently cheaper than new coal- or gas-fired power plants in most countries,' and IRENA's 2023 cost data shows solar PV averaging $0.044/kWh — 56% below the weighted-average fossil fuel benchmark. The key qualification is that this comparison applies to new-build costs: existing coal plants with sunk capital can sti…
This fact-check was conducted by SpinkillerAI, a non-partisan AI-powered accountability platform.
Related fact-checks
- Donald Trump Jr accepted a gift from a Russian oligearch — True
- European Union plans 200 million Euro investment in Greenland as a response to Trump's posturing — Mostly True
- Approximately 45% of the current Canadian population is made up of immigrants and the children of immigrants — Mostly True
- Recent job numbers increased faster than had been expected and are ahead of most analysts expectations — Partly True
- Medicare for all would cost trillions a year that Americans would pay through higher income taxes — Partly True