# The Big Problem With Solar Power

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otSAEca41eE
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/otSAEca41eE
Generated: 2025-12-04T16:42:17.518+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The true cost of solar power is significantly higher than advertised because standard Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) calculations omit the substantial costs associated with energy storage needed to compensate for solar's intermittency, especially in regions with low sunshine like Northern Europe, leading to a misleading perception of cheapness when compared to fossil fuels like gas and coal.

**Key Points:**
- The Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for solar photovoltaic (PV) utility-scale power, which excludes storage, is reported between $38 to $131 per MWh (01:50, 02:10).
- When storage is included (Solar PV + Storage - Utility), the LCOE range increases significantly to $50 to $131 per MWh (02:10).
- The LCOE figures presented in the Lazard report (02:04) do not account for costs like battery storage needed for solar power during nighttime or cloudy periods, which is a major limitation.
- In Germany, subsidized renewable energy costs range from approximately 10-20 Billion USD per year, while US solar subsidies approach $80 Billion per year (03:43, 03:48).
- Solar energy performs poorly in locations like Northern Europe and Canada due to low sunlight, requiring significant battery storage, which adds substantial cost not typically factored into basic LCOE claims (04:17, 04:40).
- The video highlights that Ground News' 'Blindspot' feature reveals that positive stories about solar power's cheapness are disproportionately covered by media leaning left, while counter-narratives are often ignored (05:34, 06:23).
- A separate study presented by Fraunhofer ISE shows that utility-scale solar PV in Germany has an LCOE around 6-12 €cent/kWh, which is comparable to or cheaper than wind, but this figure is based on ideal conditions (02:33).

![Screenshot at 02:09: The Lazard LCOE comparison chart highlights that utility-scale solar PV with storage has a cost range of $50 to $131 per MWh, emphasizing the significant cost impact of necessary energy storage compared to the lower range for solar PV alone \($38 to $78\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/otSAEca41eE/00-02-09.png)

**Context:** This video, presented as a segment of 'Science News with Sabine Hossenfelder,' critically examines the widely circulated claim that solar power is exceptionally cheap. The presenter scrutinizes the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) metric used by financial advisors like Lazard, explaining that these calculations often fail to incorporate the necessary costs of energy storage solutions required to provide reliable power when the sun is not shining, leading to an inflated sense of cost-competitiveness for solar energy.

## Detailed Analysis

The presenter argues that the narrative surrounding solar power being universally cheap is misleading because it ignores crucial ancillary costs, specifically energy storage. Citing headlines suggesting solar power is 'the world's cheapest power source' (00:07), Sabine Hossenfelder points to Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy+ report (02:03), which shows that while utility-scale solar PV costs range from $38 to $78/MWh, adding storage pushes the cost range to $50 to $131/MWh (02:10). She emphasizes that LCOE must account for all expenses over a plant's lifetime, including construction to decommissioning, and critically, the cost of storing energy for use at night or during bad weather (00:36). The problem is exacerbated in regions with less consistent sunshine, such as Northern Europe, the UK, and Canada, where solar's intermittency demands more battery capacity (04:17). The video contrasts this with Germany's massive annual solar subsidies, estimated at 10-20 Billion USD/year, and US subsidies near $80 Billion/year (03:43, 03:48). Furthermore, the presentation references Fraunhofer ISE data showing that while solar PV is competitive in Germany (around 6-12 €cent/kWh), this often relies on favorable solar conditions (02:33). Finally, the presenter uses Ground News' 'Blindspot' tool to show that media coverage favoring solar's low cost is heavily skewed towards politically left-leaning outlets, suggesting a bias in public perception (05:34, 06:09).

### LCOE Analysis

- Solar PV utility-scale cost is $38-$131/MWh
- Including storage pushes cost to $50-$131/MWh
- LCOE calculation often excludes necessary battery storage costs

### Geographic Limitations

- Solar power is less effective in low-sunshine areas like Northern Europe and Canada
- These locations require significant battery backup, increasing effective cost

### Subsidies and Scale

- Germany subsidizes solar heavily ($10-20B/year)
- US solar subsidies are around $80B/year
- Solar panel costs are decreasing, but storage costs remain high

### Media Bias Check (Ground News)

- Stories claiming solar is cheap are overwhelmingly covered by left-leaning media
- News regarding solar's limitations (storage needs, weather dependence) is often covered only by one political side (05:52, 06:27)

![Screenshot at 00:04: Headline from Carbon Credits showing 'Solar Surge and Wind Wins: 2024's Renewable Energy Boom Breaks All Record'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/otSAEca41eE/00-00-04.png)
![Screenshot at 00:07: Headline from Euro News stating 'Solar energy named the world's cheapest power source: What it means for Europe'](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/otSAEca41eE/00-00-07.png)
![Screenshot at 00:33: Chart displaying the Levelized Cost of Energy for renewables worldwide from 1984 to 2024, showing the general downward trend for solar PV.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/otSAEca41eE/00-00-33.png)
![Screenshot at 02:04: Lazard Levelized Cost of Energy Comparison chart showing the range for 'Solar PV + Storage - Utility' at $50-$131/MWh, highlighted by a red box.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/otSAEca41eE/00-02-04.png)
![Screenshot at 05:52: Ground News interface displaying coverage details for a story about the Solar System moving faster than models predict, showing 80% Center bias distribution.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/otSAEca41eE/00-05-52.png)