5 Clean Energy Myths the Data Has Finally Put to Rest – And Where the Industry Is Heading

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For much of the past decade, discourse around renewable energy has been shaped by persistent concerns over cost, reliability, and environmental trade-offs. While some of these…

For much of the past decade, discourse around renewable energy has been shaped by persistent concerns over cost, reliability, and environmental trade-offs. While some of these critiques reflected genuine limitations during the early stages of deployment, the global energy landscape has since evolved significantly.

Criticism of and skepticism surrounding renewable energy have for years revolved around the same talking points: it is too expensive to build, the supply is too unreliable, and the environmental cost is under wraps. While some of those concerns were justified during the early stages of industry development, the latest evidence tells a different story.

The world installed 692 gigawatts of new renewable capacity in 2025, pushing the total global renewable power to over 5,149 gigawatts, or nearly half of all installed power capacity on Earth.

Against this backdrop, Earth.Org debunks five of the most persistent myths about clean energy and explains what the data actually shows.

One of the most persistent debates in energy policy has been the assertion that renewable energy cannot pass the commercial test without hefty state subsidies. However, a 2024 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) report found that 91% of new renewable power projects commissioned globally were less expensive than the cheapest new fossil fuel option available.

The shift has been staggering. Since 2010, the cost of solar PV has plummeted from being five times more expensive than fossil fuels to being 41% cheaper. Similarly, onshore wind has moved from a 23% premium over coal and gas to a 53% discount. This transition isn’t just about labels; in 2024 alone, the shift to renewables saved an estimated US$467 billion in global fuel expenditures.

Unlike fossil fuels, which remain tethered to the volatile pricing of natural gas – which has swung from under $2 to over $9 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) in the last decade – wind and solar offer price certainty.

Historically, the most…

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