On September 23, 2025, during the UN General Assembly, President Donald Trump stirred conversation by criticizing what he termed the “extreme cost” of the Green Transition. He argued that climate-related policies are only benefiting the wealthy elite while leaving everyday people at a disadvantage. Despite repeated assurances from various organizations like the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, he pointed out that wind and solar energy are not delivering the affordable energy they claim to provide; in fact, they’re pushing electricity prices higher.
For years, proponents of green energy have insisted that solar and wind are now the most cost-effective electricity sources. This assertion is at the heart of the belief that a green transition is unstoppable, even under another Trump presidency. However, data from the past two decades challenges this notion. Countries that have heavily invested in solar and wind power are often facing significantly higher electricity costs.
Questionable Claims and Disturbing Realities
The narrative that solar and wind are “inexpensive” is somewhat misleading. These energy sources are competitive only under ideal conditions—when the sun shines or the wind blows. But modern society requires a reliable energy supply around the clock. When those conditions aren’t met, many countries have to rely on costly backup systems, typically fueled by fossil fuels. Therefore, the reality is that renewables are not as cheap as advertised.
A study from China revealed that the real cost of solar energy can be double that of coal. Similar research conducted in Germany and Texas indicates that when backup costs are factored in, the supposed savings from solar and wind can diminish significantly.
Consumer electricity prices illustrate this trend. Countries like Germany, Spain, Denmark, and the UK, which have made substantial investments in renewable energy, also have some of the world’s highest electricity costs. For instance, EU households and industries paid over 26 cents per kilowatt-hour last year, more than double the average in the U.S. at 13 cents, and significantly higher than prices in China. The UK, with its environmental ambitions, faced a jaw-dropping 36 cents per kilowatt-hour—almost three times the U.S. price.
International Energy Agency data shows clear trends across 70 nations: as the share of wind and solar increases, so do electricity costs. Every 10% rise in renewable energy contribution corresponds to an increase of over 4 cents per kilowatt-hour in costs.
Unmentioned Challenges
Despite headlines that celebrate the large share of renewable energy in Germany and elsewhere, they often overlook the dark days when both the sun and wind fail to produce power. Last winter, Germany experienced days when renewables contributed less than 4% to the electricity grid.
Supporters frequently mention that battery technology will solve these reliability problems. However, German storage capacities last under 20 minutes. In practice, fossil fuels remain indispensable, often leading to increased occurrences of high prices, such as when wholesale electricity in Germany soared to $1 per kilowatt-hour last November, as solar and wind contributions dwindled.
As traditional power plants are shut down, the risk of outages looms larger. In fact, the CEO of a German utility noted that the country narrowly avoided blackouts because unusually mild weather prevented severe demand.
Poverty and Energy Choices
If solar and wind truly offered the economic advantages they claim, developing nations would be adopting them more widely. Yet, the opposite is happening. Last year, electricity demand in these countries grew nearly 5%, with fossil fuels still dominating. For example, China consumed more coal than the combined solar and wind resources it added, and Bangladesh increased its coal consumption thirteenfold compared to its renewable energy additions.
Even as India pursues ambitious solar goals, it continues to rely heavily on coal—three times more than its new solar and wind investments combined. There are reports that Gautam Adani is struggling to find buyers for a substantial solar project, which has led to speculation about bribery tactics due to resistance to unreliable renewable energy in many Indian states.
Poorer countries are acutely aware of the limitations of renewable energy. Wealthier nations can entertain the notion of transitioning to renewables because they have the luxury of fossil fuel backups and generous subsidies.
Obscured U.S. Costs
In Europe, high prices reflect the true costs of renewable energy, whereas in the U.S., these costs are often masked by subsidies. Federal tax credits for wind and solar alone amounted to nearly $18 billion in 2024, with state support adding billions more. In Texas, total subsidies might have topped $20 billion last year.
Overall, hidden subsidies in the U.S. may exceed $60 billion annually, suggesting that the real cost of electricity is about 25% higher than what consumers pay.
Time for Truth and Innovation
The narrative of cheap renewable energy is not only comforting but potentially harmful. It creates a cycle of rising costs supported by ongoing subsidies, which ultimately impacts the most vulnerable populations. Trump’s critique of today’s climate policies resonates, but the solution isn’t to dismiss climate change. Instead, the focus should be on smarter approaches—investing in innovations that could genuinely make green energy more affordable than fossil fuels.
This means investing heavily in research and development—from advanced nuclear technology to more efficient renewable systems with better storage solutions and geothermal advancements. Such investments would likely be less costly than current climate expenditures.
Until those solutions materialize, fossil fuels will continue to be vital. Otherwise, we face a future of increasingly expensive and less reliable energy. There’s a pressing need for honesty regarding renewable energy’s costs. When wealthy countries prioritize genuine innovation over unrealistic expectations, we can move towards a genuine green revolution, founded on reliable and affordable energy, rather than just hollow slogans.
