
New Wave. [3/5] How cheap can solar really get? Andy Lubershane (Energy Impact Partners)
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🌊 Crazy Cheap Renewables
What if solar becomes the cheapest energy source on Earth?
We’re joined by Andy Lubershane, Partner at Energy Impact Partners and author of Steel For Fuel.
In this episode, we dive into the future of ultra-cheap solar, and unpack what it really takes to push renewables into a new cost paradigm that reshapes global energy systems.
In our conversation, we covered:
→ Why solar’s cost curve has been one of the biggest success stories of the energy transition
→ What “crazy cheap” actually means (hint: ~50% cheaper than today)
→ Why cost of capital is now solar’s biggest bottleneck
→ The real constraints: land, transmission, and grid infrastructure
→ Why efficiency gains (not cheaper panels) are the next big unlock
→ The rise of tandem cells and perovskites as a potential step change
→ Why installation and labor are now major cost drivers
→ The surprising reality: solar costs have recently increased in some markets
→ Why wind likely won’t reach the same scalability as solar
This is episode three of a five part series. Subscribe to receive every episode.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com
