Solar power is already providing the “cheapest electricity in history”) and is expected to play a pivotal role in the global transition away from fossil fuels.
The technology accounted for two-thirds of the world’s new electricity capacity and two-fifths of new generation in 2024, according to the thinktank Ember.
Yet, this rapid expansion has triggered a backlash, with numerous campaigns springing up to oppose new solar projects from the UK to Australia.
These groups frequently draw on misinformation, spread by right-leaning media outlets, anti-renewable energy groups and predominantly right-wing political parties.
Increasingly, these narratives are having real-world consequences, with governments restricting or even banning the installation of solar panels across swathes of land.
Here, Carbon Brief factchecks 16 of the most common myths about solar power.
https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social
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Here are some of the most common myths about solar power.
* [**FALSE** Solar power is an ‘unreliable source of energy](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-solar-power-is-an-unreliable-source-of-energy)’
* [**FALSE** ‘Solar and wind power are expensive’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-solar-and-wind-power-are-expensive)
* [**FALSE** ‘As nations use more solar, bills get more expensive’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-as-nations-use-more-solar-bills-get-more-expensive)
* [**FALSE** Solar farms ‘pump out more carbon over their lifetimes than they save’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-solar-farms-pump-out-more-carbon-over-their-lifetimes-than-they-save)
* [**FALSE** Solar power is ‘a serious threat to agriculture and food security’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-solar-power-is-a-serious-threat-to-agriculture-and-food-security)
* [**FALSE** Energy projects will generate a ‘tsunami of solar panel waste’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-energy-projects-will-generate-a-tsunami-of-solar-panel-waste)
* [**FALSE** Battery storage presents a ‘huge fire risk’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-battery-storage-presents-a-huge-fire-risk)
* [**FALSE** Heatwaves make solar panels ‘significantly less efficient’](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-heatwaves-make-solar-panels-significantly-less-efficient)
* [**FALSE** Solar farms ‘will be designated brownfield sites and eventually disappear under housing forever](https://interactive.carbonbrief.org/factcheck/solar/index.html?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=social#section-solar-farms-will-be-designated-brownfield-sites-and-eventually-disappear-under-housing-forever)’
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Some excellent points here but something not addressed by this article:
the ongoing need for energy storage or a rapid response generating station of carbon outputting or nuclear make up for the variable nature of solar system output so that grid operators can supply a steady throughput to meet demand under current infrastructure build out.
And the cost related to building any energy storage system or rapid response system as a portion of the cost of that solar system (same for wind). Instead of treating the cost of any one generating source as a stand alone cost we need to be discussing the overall generating/delivery costs of the whole system. Otherwise any own group can fudge the numbers to make themselves “look best”.
I’ve installed solar panels. The biggest issue with residential solar is that the decrease in costs related to the equipment is not being passed on to the Consumer. So it just isn’t financially viable for people to install solar and return on their investment at any reasonable amount of time to make it worth it. And you’re talking to somebody who has solar panels on their house and believes in it.
But I can’t recommend it to people because breaking even on your money in 10 or 15 years is a horrible financial decision.
So, we know what we already knew — the naysayers are bought and paid for.