[3/5] How cheap can solar really get? Andy Lubershane (Energy Impact Partners)

[3/5] How cheap can solar really get? Andy Lubershane (Energy Impact Partners)

From New Wave. by Hugo Rauch

April 3, 2026 · 34 min

About this episode

In this episode, Hugo Rauch interviews Andy Lubershane about the future of ultra-cheap solar energy and the factors influencing its cost and scalability.

Subscribe to the newsletter: New Wave | Hugo Rauch | Substack **** 🌊 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…

People in this episode

Host: Hugo Rauch

Guest: Andy Lubershane

Topics covered

  • solar energy
  • renewable energy
  • energy transition
  • cost of solar
  • energy systems
  • efficiency gains

Keywords

  • solar costs
  • energy transition
  • cost of capital
  • tandem cells
  • perovskites
  • installation costs
  • grid infrastructure

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Energy Impact Partners

Books & works: Steel For Fuel

More episodes of New Wave.

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the New Wave. podcast page.