• Lazard’s 2026 Levelized Cost of Energy+ report keeps renewables as the lowest-cost option for unsubsidized new-build generation despite inflationary pressures.
• Surging power-demand forecasts are driving more planned gas builds even as gas LCOE hits a 15-year high with further increases expected.
• Rising new-build costs are lifting the relative economics of existing generation, boosting dispatch rates while leaving margins sensitive to gas and coal prices.
• Standalone battery storage costs rose, reversing prior declines, as tariffs on lithium-ion imports reduced access to low-cost Chinese cells.
• The report flags permitting delays as a key constraint, raising costs and reliability risks while strengthening the case for a diverse generation mix.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Lazard Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief via PR Newswire (Ref. ID: NY02634) on July 13, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.