Rethinking Energy -- 100% Solar, Wind and Batteries Is Just The Beginning
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as support for the argument that renewables with storage are already cheapest and still getting cheaper.
What it is
Tony Seba of RethinkX presents the case that solar, wind and batteries are on a cost-decline path that makes a fully renewable grid achievable. It was made for the Global 100% RE Strategy Group's joint declaration.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2021 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Recommends mtmmtm · 2021-04 · on “Lithium battery costs have fallen by 98% in three decades”
Solar and wind-power can compete very efficiently in a free market. They actually outperform all other forms of energy-production (it is the cheapest way to produce energy). Also every year they get much cheaper. I would recommend this video: [this video]
Cites doczoidberg · 2021-05 · on “White House eyes subsidies for nuclear plants to help meet climate targets”
what are we doing with the nuclear waste? I mean in reality not in theory. Aren't renewables cheap enough also with energy storage? [this video]
Cites ZeroGravitas · 2022-11 · on “Largest EU economy can reach 100% ‘clean energy’ by 2035”
The group that is doing this report suggests batteries reduced by 83% in the last decade and will reduce by a further 80% in the next decade: [this video] They predict similar for wind and solar, and notably they correctly predicted the price drop of solar 10 years ago till today. Which seemed a crazy thing to suggest 10 years ago.
Cites toomuchtodo · 2025-11 · on “Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand in some hubs next year”
It is unfortunate that the government of Pakistan and their investors (China and the IMF) made poor investment decisions. They should feel free to go back to debt holders to renegotiate the debt, or default on it and hand the stranded assets back to creditors. The death spiral is of their own making, and will only accelerate as solar PV and battery cost declines continue. Electricity consumers will simply go off the grid. Such is the risk of unsophisticated investors not understanding the market in which they invest. Capital being at risk is an inherent component of investment. My condolences and sympathy to the people of Pakistan caught in the mess. The global energy transition will be vola