On September 23, 2025, the general meeting of the UN, President Donald Trump made worldwide headlines by shooting what he called the “extreme costs” of the green transition, with the argument that climate alarmism is impoverished and enriches elites. What is also thinking of Trump’s rhetoric, he touched an uncomfortable truth: despite endless guarantees from campaigners and institutions such as the UN, World Bank and World Economic Forum, Wind and Solar Energy, still do not deliver cheap energy. In fact, they make electricity more expensive.
For years, media and green lawyers have insisted that solar energy and wind are now the cheapest forms of electricity. This claim is central to the idea that a green transition is inevitable and inexpensive – even under a second Trump administration. But two decades of evidence shows the opposite. The countries that have added the most solar and wind also have the highest electricity costs.
The great lie and the uncomfortable truth
The claim of “cheap” solar and wind is built on a skill. These sources are indeed often competitive when the sun is shining or the wind blows. But modern societies need 24/7 power. If the sun does not shine and the wind is not winding, countries must rely on expensive back -up – usually fossil fuels. Factoring in these costs reveals that renewable energy sources are far from cheap.
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A study by China found that the real costs of Solar were twice that of coal. Research into Germany and Texas showed that as soon as the backup costs are included, solar energy and wind go from slightly cheaper to many times more expensive.
President Donald Trump gives comments to the United Nations General Meeting at the UN headquarters in New York City on September 23, 2025 (photo by Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)
We see this in consumer prices. Germany, Spain, Denmark and the UK have some of the world’s highest electricity costs in addition to massive investments in renewable energy sources. Last year, households and industries in the EU paid more than 26 cents per kilowatt hour, more than double the American price of 13 cents and three -time the price in China. The UK, with its even greener ambition, paid an eye-watery 36 cents per kilowatt hour, almost three times the American prize and more than four times the prize in China.
In 70 countries, data from international energy agency show a clear pattern: more renewable energy sources, higher costs. Every 10% increase in the share of wind and solar energy increases the average power costs by more than four cents per kilowatt hour.
Days without wind – or honesty
The headlines often praise how Germany and other countries and states generate most of their electricity from renewable energy sources. But these stories never mention the dark, windless days that solar energy and wind offer almost nothing. Last winter, renewable energy sources repeatedly delivered less than 4% of Germany for a whole day.
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Proponents say that batteries will solve this problem. But all Germany’s storage would last less than 20 minutes. The reality: fossil fuels remain essential, but because they now run less often, the costs are rising. Last November, when solar and wind delivered almost nothing, wholesale rose German prices to $ 1 per kilowatt hour
As conventional plants close, the risks rise. A German CEO of the utilities warned the country and avoided and avoided black -outs only because the weather was not colder.
Poor countries cannot pay the lie
If solar energy and wind were really cheaper, poor countries would jump to them. Yet the opposite happens. In developing countries, the demand for electricity last year increased nearly 5% – usually met by fossil fuels. China used more extra coal than the extra solar and wind combination used. Bangladesh used 13 times more extra coal than extra renewable energy sources.
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India, praised for ambitious sunshots, still added three times more coal than solar energy and wind. Billionaire Gautam Adani, who is struggling to find buyers for a $ 6 billion solar project, is said to have resorted to a bribery plan of $ 265 million – because most Indian states refuse to rely on unreliable renewable energy sources.
Bad countries know reliability important. Rich countries can only spoil the solar and wind illusion because they already have fossil backups and lush subsidies.
On 26 May 2021 rows of solar panels on the Toms River Solar Farm, which was built on an EPA Superfund site in Toms River, New Jersey. (Reuters/Dane Rhys)
The hidden American subsidy machine
The high prices of Europe in any case reflect the actual costs of renewable energy sources. The US disguises them through subsidies. Federal tax credits for just wind and sun only cost almost $ 18 billion in 2024, with states that add more billions. In Texas alone, the total subsidies may have reached nearly $ 20 billion in 2023 – 10 times the federal subsidies.
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In the US, hidden subsidies can be higher than $ 60 billion annually, which means that real energy costs are approximately 25% higher than official accounts suggest.
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Tell the truth and invest in innovation
The myth of cheap renewable energy sources is reassuring but destructive. It supports a system of rising accounts and endless subsidies, which becomes the poorest.
Proponents say that batteries will solve this problem. But all Germany’s storage would last less than 20 minutes.
Trump is right to call up the economic damage of today’s climate policy. But the solution is not to ignore climate change – it is to follow smarter. We must concentrate on innovation that can make really green energy cheaper than fossil fuels. This means dramatic more investments in research and development: from advanced nuclear to more reliable renewable energy sources with storage to geothermal breakthroughs.
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Such investments would cost much less than the current climate expenditure and real benefits. Until then, fossil fuels remain indispensable. Otherwise, only energy will do more expensive and less safe.
The world needs honesty: solar and wind are not yet cheap because they need backup and force them to electricity networks, only increases prices. As rich countries involved in climate change give priority to innovation over illusion, they can lead a real green revolution – one that is not built on slogans, but on affordable, reliable energy for everyone.
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