Factcheck: 16 misleading myths about solar power
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.