As renewables are mainstreamed, the cheapest energy project may no longer create the best value. : "New Record Set for World’s Cheapest Solar. " A headline like this makes for great social media fodder. The downward trend in renewables prices is fantastic — it's the most important driver for the growth of solar and wind energy. However, when your business or utility is comparing energy projects, looking at cost alone is not enough. Even energy projects at very low costs can be "out of the money" if the value created by a project is less than its cost.