Thread by @WannerBrent

Solar PV stirs strong opinions in many, including on #WEO19. A thread.

Myth 1: #WEO forecasts flat solar additions.
-False. Depending on the scenario, annual PV additions in #WEO19 grow by 110% (STEPS) or 210% (SDS)

Myth 2: #WEO underestimates renewables growth.
-False. Additions of renewables lead all sources in all scenarios. Track back and China’s policy changes accelerated global growth. Unfortunately, in the rest of the world, renewables are behind (!) the STEPS equivalent from WEO2009

Myth 3: #WEO uses outdated costs and holds them constant.
-False. #WEO19 incorporates the latest historical data on renewable energy costs collected and published by @IRENA. Endogenous learning for solar PV is at 20% per doubling of cumulative capacity.

Myth 4: WEO’s solar PV cost assumptions are a secret.
-False. Power generation technology cost assumptions, including for solar PV, have been freely available online for a decade, updated regularly. The latest for #WEO19 are available at iea.org/weo/weomodel/i…

Myth 5: Renewables no longer need policy support.
-False. Policies are critical to accelerate renewables growth and meet climate goals. Subsidies are no longer needed, but policy frameworks reducing RISK can cut by half solar or wind costs (LCOEs), boosting competitiveness