New wind and solar are now at or near competitiveness with existing coal and nuclear plants, latest levelised cost of energy (LCOE) analysis from Lazard reveals.

Unsubsidised new-build onshore wind is coming between $28 and $54/MWh in 2019, and solar PV at $36-44/MWh, according to Lazard’s annual study of prices.

Both wind and solar showed falls on 2018 – from lowest prices of $29 and $40/MWh respectively – and the rates compared to a marginal cost of $26-41/MWh for existing coal plants and $27-31/MWh for nuclear.