Economy Solar power now less expensive and more reliable than fossil fuels

[Aegon Spengler]

Solar Power has now surpassed coal and other fossil fuels as the cheapest and most reliable form of electricity generation, according to recent research and studies published on the subject.

Once installed, the marginal cost of solar is essentially zero—sunlight is free. Solar requires a large upfront investment (still far less than the subsidies fossil fuels companies get) and afterwards the energy is basically free, requiring nothing more than maintenance costs on the solar farms.

According to a new book published by Brett Christophers, Solar when paired with wind and new battery technology is far more cost effective for consumers and is more reliable than fossil fuels, however they are much less profitable for fossil fuel companies.

In terms of the reliability argument:

Brett Christophers’ Argument: The Reliability Problem Is Solved

1. Diversification and Redundancy
   Christophers points out that when solar (and wind) are deployed across large geographic areas and paired with a diversified energy mix, variability is much less of a problem. The sun might not shine in one region at a given time, but it's shining elsewhere—especially with modern transmission networks.
2. Storage Technology Is Advancing
   He argues that battery storage is now viable at scale and is rapidly becoming more affordable. Big investments in grid-scale batteries (like in California, Australia, and China) show that storing solar energy for use at night or during cloudy periods is increasingly practical.
3. Demand Management and Smart Grids
   Christophers also highlights that modern grids can now manage demand more intelligently, shifting usage to match supply, reducing the need for fossil fuel "backup."
4. Fossil Fuel Reliability Is Also Flawed
   He flips the script by pointing out that fossil fuels aren't as reliable as they’re made out to be. Power plants can fail, fuel supply chains can be disrupted, and extreme weather (often worsened by climate change) can knock them offline—like we saw in the Texas blackout of 2021.

Governments still subsidize fossil fuels heavily (the IMF estimates trillions globally).

To learn more about this subject you can see it broken down here:



Good thing Trump cancelled all the green energy projects that had been planned, otherwise people’s costs might have gone down and profits would suffer. The most important thing is that his buddies make money, after all.

 

[Cherry Brigand]

why are solar panels 40k to install

 

[Michaelangelo]

why are solar panels 40k to install

Because high school dropouts need commission

 

[CantCucktheTuck]

lol

 

[Alpha_T83]

why are solar panels 40k to install

Because of inflation. Labor is expensive now. Have you tried to get a job quote on ANYTHING lately?

I'd argue the official inflation numbers are lagging behind the actual inflation, based on grocery prices and labor prices.

 

[ricc505]

Sign me up, it must be true since I read it on the Internet!
I don't qualify for subsidized panels because I use very little electricity. So it isn't worth it for me to let them install panels on my roof. I'd also prefer to own panels instead of letting a company own them. Of course solar only really makes sense in the suburbs and rural America too.

 

[HockeyBjj]

Every new building, industrial and residential, should have solar installed on the roof space

It’s so easy and helps fill the massive void we have in energy generation

 

[Staph infection]

Good thing they are pushing to block out the sun.

 

[syct23]

Good thing they are pushing to block out the sun.

Jokes on them,

Nothing a few hundred beating hearts ripped from a living torso can’t fix..

 

[Prutfis]

We have a close to 13 year old 5.9kwh solar on the roof. Air to water heat pump. Less than 1400 $ a year in combined heat and electricity bill. 2300sqft house. With Danish winters etc. Combined cost with install has been around 25k.
Newer solars are easily 8-10kwh with a 10kwh battery.

 

[Zookeeper Gabe]

why are solar panels 40k to install

We just paid 35k to do ours, will get about 10k back in taxes next year (thanks Biden) and it should pay for itself in 6-7 years depending on how much the energy company raises its rates.
Sounds like a good investment to me.

 

[Beechwood]

What Jon Stewart And Others Get Wrong About Big Oil Subsidies​

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2025/02/25/what-jon-stewart-and-others-get-wrong-about-big-oil-subsidies/

But Stewart recently made a claim on his show that promotes a common misconception: "How about we just take $3 billion in subsidies we give to oil and gas companies that turn billions in profits?"

It’s a statement that sounds damning—but is it accurate? While this claim resonates with many, it misrepresents how the oil and gas industry operates in relation to government support. The notion that oil companies receive massive handouts distorts public perception and fuels unnecessary animosity toward the sector. In reality, there is a massive flow of money from these oil companies to federal, state, and local governments—not the other way around.

Understanding "Subsidies" in Context​

When most people hear the word subsidy, they imagine the government handing over large sums of money to corporations. However, what oil companies receive are tax breaks—similar to those granted to many other industries. These tax deductions allow businesses to recover costs related to production, infrastructure, and operational expenses.

A true subsidy is when the government directly hands money to a company. A tax deduction, on the other hand, simply reduces what a company owes—just like how individuals deduct mortgage interest or student loan payments from their taxes.


In return, oil and gas companies contribute billions of dollars in taxes annually. For example, ExxonMobil alone paid $13.8 billion in income taxes in 2024. Additionally, these companies pay severance taxes, royalties, property taxes, and more, all of which generate significant revenue for governments. Further, the oil industry employs millions, who in turn pay income and property taxes. Dismissing these contributions while solely focusing on tax breaks creates a misleading narrative.


Imagine that you, as a taxpayer, are allowed to deduct certain items from your taxes. Would you agree that the government is giving you subsidies? Probably not. You probably feel that your taxes are subsidizing the government and allowing you deductions to lower your tax bill isn’t exactly what most consider to be a subsidy.....

 

[The_Renaissance]

For sort of wealthy people? Yes. For us plebs? Not it absolutely is not. It's only affordable for the middle class and above. So it wouldn't be surprising to see those people force the working class into medieval serfdom by pushing it which does generally seem to be the goal.

 

[SurferH2O]

Every new building, industrial and residential, should have solar installed on the roof space

It’s so easy and helps fill the massive void we have in energy generation

^^^ This is how solar should work. Local solar is smart.

Solar farms... really bad ideas.

 

[heloder]

For sort of wealthy people? Yes. For us plebs? Not it absolutely is not. It's only affordable for the middle class and above.

(The OP isn't talking about everybody putting solar panels on their houses. Electric companies build and own solar farms—which are more cost efficient than their fossil fuel powered plants.)

There is no argument against it at this point. PV solar and wind are the most cost effective sources of electricity generation now, and have been for years. Trump trashing them and saying we need to invest more in coal and oil is just him being a corrupt retard. His supporters who parrot the lines are just clueless muppets that do as they're told. I already schooled Whippy on this shit back in July.

 

[SurferH2O]

(The OP isn't talking about everybody putting solar panels on their houses. Electric companies build and own solar farms—which are more cost efficient than their fossil fuel powered plants.)

There is no argument against it at this point. PV solar and wind are the most cost effective sources of electricity generation now, and have been for years. Trump trashing them and saying we need to invest more in coal and oil is just him being a corrupt retard. His supporters who parrot the lines are just clueless muppets that do as they're told. I already schooled Whippy on this shit back in July.

Do you know the difference between a baseload energy source and solar and wind? Do you know why Europe had a huge power outage this Summer?

You schooled no one. You're talking out of your ass.

 

[curryjunkie]

We have a close to 13 year old 5.9kwh solar on the roof. Air to water heat pump. Less than 1400 $ a year in combined heat and electricity bill. 2300sqft house. With Danish winters etc. Combined cost with install has been around 25k.
Newer solars are easily 8-10kwh with a 10kwh battery.

10 years ago a kwh of lithium battery cost 1400 dollars, today it's around a hundred dollars, China's catl and an American company have both developed a sodium ion battery that uses no lithium, or cobalt, it's cost per kwh is projected to be...10 dollars, it also has a longer lifespan than lithium, operates in colder temps, and can be more easily recycled, home energy storage is about to get a lot cheaper..

 

[Rob Battisti]

Every new building, industrial and residential, should have solar installed on the roof space

It’s so easy and helps fill the massive void we have in energy generation

As with everything, China is killing us in solar production

 

[A Very Serious Cat]

^^^ This is how solar should work. Local solar is smart.

Solar farms... really bad ideas.

Large parking lots should have solar pannels built above them, you get a double benefit or power generation and shade for customers during hot weather

 

[SurferH2O]

Large parking lots should have solar pannels built above them, you get a double benefit or power generation and shade for customers during hot weather

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