Solar Cost Collapse (Swanson's Law)
Solar becomes cheaper than coal.
Swanson's Law is the observation that the price of solar photovoltaic modules drops about 20% for every doubling of cumulative shipped volume.
Open in interactive timeline →Key Numbers
- Cost Trend
- -20% per doubling
- Grid Status
- Cheaper than fossil fuels
Verified Facts
- Throughout the 2010s, massive scaling in Chinese manufacturing caused the price of solar panels to plummet exponentially.
- Solar went from a niche aerospace technology to the absolute cheapest source of electricity in human history in many parts of the world, triggering global terawatt-scale deployments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Solar Cost Collapse (Swanson's Law)?
Swanson's Law is the observation that the price of solar photovoltaic modules drops about 20% for every doubling of cumulative shipped volume.
When did Solar Cost Collapse (Swanson's Law) happen?
Solar Cost Collapse (Swanson's Law): 2010s CE.
Why does Solar Cost Collapse (Swanson's Law) matter?
Solar becomes cheaper than coal.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “Solar Cost Collapse (Swanson's Law).” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-09-11. https://askhistoryai.com/event/tech-solar-swanson/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.