Renewable Energy Myths: Busted, Roasted, and Politely Shown the Exit

Renewable energy has been around long enough that it should probably be allowed to bring a plus-one to family gatherings. And yet, despite solar panels casually lounging on rooftops and wind turbines striking dramatic poses on hillsides, myths about renewable energy continue to roam freely—like urban legends with a LinkedIn profile.

To weather the upcoming holiday period, we’re blowing off the cover (wind-powered, obviously!) on the most common renewable energy myths, before gently but firmly escorting them out.

Myth #1: “Renewable Energy Is Basically Just a Science Fair Project”

The classic belief that glue sticks, hope, and a tri-fold poster board hold renewable energy together.

Reality: Renewables already make up a significant and growing portion of the global energy mix. In 2023, renewable sources accounted for nearly 30% of global electricity generation and have seen record capacity additions year after year.

If renewable energy were a science fair project, it would be the one that wins first place, gets acquired by a Fortune 500 company, and ultimately changes the world.

Myth #2: “It Only Works When the Sun Is Shining and the Wind Is Blowing”

This myth is the renewable energy equivalent of saying your phone only works when it’s plugged into the wall.

Yes, the sun occasionally clocks out. Yes, wind sometimes takes a nap. But technology has evolved. Battery storage costs have plunged by over 90% in the last decade, greatly expanding the ability to store and dispatch renewable power.

Grid operators also balance solar and wind with other generation and regional interconnections, smoothing out variability in real-world energy systems.

Conventional power plants fail unexpectedly all the time. Yet somehow, they don’t get accused of “taking days off.” Curious.

Myth #3: “Renewable Energy Is Way Too Expensive”

Once upon a time, this was almost true. Once upon a time, phones didn’t fit in your pocket, and Wi-Fi sounded like a sneeze.

Today, around 90% of new renewable projects (solar, wind, etc.) are cheaper than the cheapest fossil fuel alternatives when built today — and costs keep falling.

For example, utility-scale solar and wind now often produce power at rates far below fossil fuels, with solar costs having experienced steep declines over the last decade.

Renewable energy isn’t a luxury item anymore. It’s the bulk deal at the warehouse club for power generation.

Myth #4: “Renewables Can’t Handle Serious Energy Demand”

Apparently, renewable energy is only trusted to charge laptops and maybe a smoothie blender—but not, say, cities, factories, or entire economies.

In reality, renewables are far from tiny. Renewable energy accounted for almost one-third of global power generation in 2023, with strong growth in solar, wind, and hydropower.

In some countries and regions, renewables already supply the majority of electricity at certain times, proving that clean energy isn’t just good for gadgets — it’s sustaining entire grids.

If renewable energy were a person, it would be quietly carrying the entire couch while fossil fuels loudly complain about a throw pillow.

Myth #5: “Renewable Energy Kills Jobs”

This myth assumes that workers just vanish into the mist the moment a solar panel is installed.

In truth, renewable energy is a major and growing employer. In 2023, global renewable energy jobs hit a record 16.2 million, up from 13.7 million in 2022 — an 18% year-on-year increase.

China alone accounts for nearly half of these jobs, with millions more in the EU, Brazil, the U.S., and India — spanning roles from manufacturing to installation to engineering.

Renewables don’t eliminate jobs; they update them. Think less soot, more safety goggles.

Myth #6: “It’s Just a Trend—We’ll Go Back to Fossil Fuels”

This is like saying we’ll eventually return to dial-up internet because it had “character.”

Renewables aren’t a fad — they’re becoming foundational. Governments, corporations, and investors are pouring hundreds of billions annually into clean energy, and it’s returning the favour. Clean energy added around $320 billion to the world economy in 2023, representing a whopping 10% of global GDP growth. That’s more than the value added by the global aerospace industry in 2023, or the size of the economy of Czechia to global output.

Once energy gets cheaper, cleaner, and more resilient, it rarely asks permission to go backward.

History doesn’t usually reverse itself — especially when the future is clearly better lit.

The Bottom Line (Powered by Renewables)

Renewable energy myths persist not because they’re true, but because they’re familiar.

But the reality is simple: renewable energy works, it’s affordable, it’s scalable, and it’s already here. The myths? They’re running on fumes.

And unlike fossil fuels, they won’t be making a comeback.