SolarIntell.com - Green Energy Stocks

China Looks to Solar, Wind, Geothermal and green fuels

2009-04-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

If it wasn't for the misguided inclusion of nuclear power as "green", China's plan for clean energy production would be highly commendable; still, they are facing major hurdles created by growth and pollution, and are proposing and developing a myriad of green power technology solutions to tackle these requirements.

The following article on alternative energy in China was posted today April 20,2009 to the Wall Street Journal Environmental Capital Blog:

Behind the Green Wall: China’s Clean-Energy Challenge

Posted by Keith Johnson

Does China illustrate the promise of clean energy or the Sisyphean task it faces? Put another way, will the U.S. crib from China, or will it be the other way around?

China is undoubtedly plowing ahead with its green revolution. As noted in a new report by the Center for American Progress, China is spending $12.6 million every hour on “green” stimulus plans. That amounts to about $220 billion over the next two years—roughly twice as much as the U.S. has earmarked for clean-energy stuff in the same period. Since the Chinese economy is smaller, its green bet is proportionally much bigger.

The green milestones are coming fast and furious. Beijing finally acknowledged a badly-kept secret and announced that China’s official wind power goal for 2020 is now 100 gigawatts, more than three times the previous official target. (The whole world today has 120 gigawatts of wind power; China has 12 gigawatts.)

If nuclear power is considered green—since it doesn’t emit greenhouse gases—chalk up another: China plans to fast-track the construction of five new, third-generation nuclear plants and make them operational in record time. China now aims for at least 60 gigawatts of nuclear power, up from 9 gigawatts today.

Full online article about clean energy industry in China 2009

China vs US for global solar energy leadership; 8 top Chinese solar stocks

Joe College Announces Rock Against OCN 2010

2009-04-05T09:44:00.001-07:00

A series of Rock Against Oil Coal Nuclear concerts are being scheduled for the summer of 2010 in Canadian cities such as Toronto and Vancouver. The brainchild of classic punk rock singer Joe College, the events are designed to promote clean energy generation and global cooling initiatives such as reforestation.

Joe proposes a 100% reduction of coal and nuclear usage for electricity generation within 7 years; 50% within 3 years. For oil, Mr. College is promoting a 100% reduction as vehicle fuel within 12 years, 50% within 7 years.

Joe College was an organizer of the original Rock Against Radiation protests in 1979 and 1980, concerts which featured DOA, The Viletones, Young Canadians, Subhumans, Joe College and The Rulers, Forgotten Rebels, Pointed Sticks and more.

Original Joe College Punk Rock website

Post-Bush Rally in US and Global equity markets drives green energy stocks higher

2009-03-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

Like a spring coiled to pop at the first whiff of good news, solar power stocks and other alternative energy companies rallied sharply today, March 23rd, 2009.

A few stellar renewable power technology companies up today:

LDK Solar LDK 5.24 +0.97 (22.72%)

Supplier of silicon wafers to many of the world's top photovoltaic energy companies.

Spire Corp SPIR 4.01 +0.65 (19.35%)

Manufacturer of building-integrated solar power products and turnkey solar energy manufacturing equipment; perhaps not as exciting as GT Solar, but a proven technology company with medical division also.

ReneSola (ADR) SOL 2.77 +0.42 (17.87%)

Jiashan, China-based manufacturer of solar wafers took a big hit in Q4 but investors now starting to look ahead.

Evergreen Solar ESLR 1.60 +0.23 (16.79%)

Former darling of the US solar industry fell over 90% during the credit markest crash but continues to post record revenue growth and can boast a nice stash of cash for expansion or takeovers.

GT Solar International SOLR 4.86 +0.64 (15.17%)

One of the best-positioned companies on the planet right now, SOLR crates solar power manufacturing equipment and is experiencing exponential growth.

MEMC Electronic Materials WFR 16.48 +1.60 (10.75%)

Though sales from the computer side have slowed and overall revenue has also stalled, the coming revival in the solar industry will give WFR new traction.

Alternative Energy Stocks Info, Links to Green Power Company websites:

Photovoltaic Solar Energy Stocks

Wind Power Stocks Investing

Green Energy Mutuals Funds

Solar Power Investing Info

Geothermal Power Stocks

5 Stocks for the post-Bush stock market rally and global economic revovery

2009-03-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

Here are 5 stocks that should benefit from better leadership in the democratic world:

First Solar power company, FSLR thin-film solar stock

Vestas of Demark; world's leading wind energy stock

Ormat Tech geothermal power, ORA leading geothermal energy company

Energy Conversion Devices stock, ENER leading green power technology company

SunPower Corp solar panel manufacturer, SPWR solar power stock

Top green energy investing blogs:

Green Power Stocks Investing Website

PV Solar Energy Stocks Investing

Green Energy Stocks; De-coupling from BOTH Oil and the Market?

2009-01-23T19:01:00.000-08:00

If clean power investments are to have a record year of capital gains in equity markets, and a lot of lined-up ducks indicate that it's at least a possibility, then the wind power sector is going to have to regain some torque. Photovoltaic solar energy stocks are mostly up sharply from November lows, yet windpower companies find their share prices lagging, and skepticism surrounding their industry. It's temporary, as growth in offshore markets is exponential, and the area of vertical windpower with microturbines (parking lot windpower!!!) is only in initial stages of deployment.

Sexy solar stocks will likely continue to lead, followed shortly by the windpower stocks, then geothermal investments, and eventually biofuels and natural gas.

Do readers feel this will be a great year for clean energy stocks, or are people concerned that wider troubles will make all equity investments even more out of favour?

Solar Energy and Renewable Power Stocks in 2008

2008-12-30T14:00:00.000-08:00

Although research, development, sales and installation of major solar projects powered forward in 2008, the year in investment markets saw some early optimism turn into a monstrous series of crushing, debilitating blows. Many solar power stocks are down 70% to 80% from their highs. Windpower companies, geothermal energy stocks, biofuels, fuel cells; the entire clean green energy sector was hit by the double whammy of plummeting oil prices and crashing equity markets.

Here are some alternative energy articles and green renewable power stories about PV thin film solar stocks, top wind energy companies, major geothermal energy stocks and other clean green power investments.

Wind Energy Stocks In 2008; Year In Review 2008 Windpower Summary - Dec 28, 2008

Solar Stocks As An Investment Play On Clean Technology Revolution? - Dec 23, 2008

Seven Green Power Stocks; Best Investments for the Obama Rally - Dec 16, 2008

Green Investors 2009 Investing Guide: Clean Energy Investment Funds - Dec 7, 2008

Best Green Power Stocks for 2009; 12 Top Clean Alternative Energy Stocks - Nov 29, 2008

Green Energy Small Caps; Clean Power Micro Caps

Strong Sales Growth in Photovoltaic Solar Energy Industry - Nov 21, 2008

Private Solar PV Energy Companies Power Technology Forward - Nov 10, 2008

NOV06: Akeena Solar Q3 loss now $5.5M; Revenue exceeds $10.6M, up 31% year over year

OCT25: 6 Green Energy Investment Funds for long term investors

OCT21: Major Publicly-traded Photovoltaic Solar Energy Stocks

Speculative Microcap Geothermal Power Stocks - Oct 19, 2008

Solar-powered Toys, Solar Electronics, Solar Power Tools, Books on Solar Energy - Sep 21, 2008

Solar Energy Investing News; Renewable Power Stocks Funds

2008-11-06T15:16:00.000-08:00

The wild and wolly green energy stocks roller-coaster ride continued today as the post-election postmartum returned many clean power shares into bargain territory. Alternative Energy investing is for high risk, longer term investors and medium risk longterm investors may want to consider utilizing green energy mutual funds as a part of the growth equity portion of your portfolio. Consult your advisor.

Here are some green power companies and other alternative energy stocks in the news:

PHOTON "Second Solar" Conference, San Francisco, Dec. 2-4, 2008

NOV06: Akeena Solar Q3 loss now $5.5M; Revenue exceeds $10.6M, up 31% year over year

NOV06: Vestas wind turbine firm expects top line to grow 25% next year

NOV06: GT Solar Reports Results for Q2 2009; Revenue up 71%, Profits Strong

NOV05: 10 Small Cap and Microcap Alternative Energy Stocks

NOV04: AMSC Reports Q2 Loss of $0.10; Hits $40 mil in qrtrly rev

OCT25: 6 Green Power Investment Funds for long term growth

OCT21: Major Publicly-listed Photovoltaic Solar Power Companies

Clean Power Investing Links:

Green Stocks Investing Info

PVintell.com Photovoltaic Solar Energy Stocks

Wind Energy Stocks Investing Info

Geothermal Power Stocks Funds Investing

President Barack Obama set to spark major green energy stocks rally

2008-11-04T10:11:00.000-08:00

With Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama expected to win in a landslide victory today, international investors will regain confidence in American equity securities as long-term investments. Year-end rebalancing will mean that many portfolio managers have a fiduciary duty to load up on USA stocks, but which ones will they buy? First, they'll buy the major weights in the major indexes, so they don't risk falling behind if there's a sustained Obama Honeymoon rally.

Next, they'll look for American companies with the best long-term growth potential, and as President Obama has pledged $15 billion per year investment in clean green energy, some names that wil benefit are First Solar, Ormat Tech, Energy Conversion Devices and other renewable power / alternative energy companies.

To learn about the universe of publicly-listed green energy stocks, visit some or all of the following blogs:

Green Energy Stocks Investing Info

WindIntell.com Wind Energy Stocks Investing

Geotherma.info Geothermal Power Company Stocks

PVintell.com Photovoltaic Solar Energy stocks

20 Top Alternative Energy Stocks; Green Investing Info

2008-10-24T18:52:00.000-07:00

Some day people will both laugh and marvel that about 15 of these names below once traded at such ridiculously low valuations. Wise ladies and gemtlemen, start your laptops and fire up those lithium-ion batteries, and watch out for the five with the funny numbers on the paper ...

Top 20 Renewable Power Stocks: 24OCT08

VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS VWS.CO: 217DK

First Solar FSLR: 120.53

MEMC Electronic Materials WFR: 18.76

Q-CELLS QCE: 27.19

SunPower Corporation SPWRA: 39.80

Suzlon Energy SUZL: 47.25

LDK Solar LDK: 15.62

Energy Conversion Devices ENER: 30.49

Ormat Technologies ORA: 23.66

JA Solar Holdings JASO: 3.77

GT Solar International SOLR: 4.36

Ener1 Inc. HEV: 7.00

Yingli Green Energy Holding YGE : 3.59

American Superconductor AMSC: 11.12

Evergreen Solar Inc ESLR: 2.58

ReneSola Ltd. (ADR) SOL: 2.58

Canadian Hydro Developers KHD: 3.26

Clean Energy Fuels Corp CLNE: 10.48

Clipper Windpower CWP: 1.87.50p

Raser Technologies RZ: 3.24

Specialist websites for clean energy investing:

Geothermal Power Company Websites Stock Quotes

Photovoltaic Stocks, PV thin film solar power companies

Solar Energy Companies, Renewable Power Investing Info

Master link list of publicly-listed wind energy companies

Green energy stocks, alt-en mutual funds, renewable power ETFs

Yingli Green Energy to supply China Mobile with 1.5MW photovoltaic solar energy

2008-10-19T16:43:00.000-07:00

According to GreenStocksCentral.com, YGE came out on top in a recent open-bidding process and is expected to supply over 30% of the photovolatic solar power requirements of China's top mobile phone carrier.

From the excellent green energy investing portal GreenStocksCentral.com:

Yingli Green Energy announced that a Chinese subsidiary, Tianwei Yingli, came out on top in bidding contest to supply photovoltaic products to China’s biggest cell phone company, China Mobile Communications Corp. Tianwei Yingli will supply the cell phone company with 1.5 MW worth of PV modules, over 31% of China Mobile Communications Corp’s latest PV purchases. Yingli expects a supply contract with China Mobile Communications Corp to result from the deal, with the details to be solidified late this month or early next month.

Below are some comments on the deal from Liansheng Miao, president and CEO of Yingli Energy:

We are pleased that China Mobile selected Tianwei Yingli as one of its major PV module suppliers,” said Mr. Liansheng Miao, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy. “We believe our top quality products, well regarded brand name and solid track record were important factors that helped differentiate us from our competition. We have been working with China Mobile since 2002 when we helped them build some stand-alone solar power base stations in western China. Over the years, we have developed a productive working relationship and we look forward to further deepening it in the future.”

Full article and more info on Yingli Green Energy here

Information on investing in photovoltaic solar energy stocks

Ten stocks for the Obama Rally; Best stocks for American economic revival

2008-10-07T16:57:00.000-07:00

For those on the sidelines with cash, the equity markets just get more and more delicious. Oil and gas prices have fallen, as has the US dollar, and all these factors are positioning the USA for perhaps the biggest economic comeback in the history of the world. Like Ali on the ropes, those who sell America short at these levels may be in for a rude awakening.

The USA is a GREAT country with many AMAZING companies, and these names below are among the most forward-thinking companies on earth. Here are ten American companies that are worth considering as turnaround market leader candidates; these are not buy recommendations, but invitations to do research, as these companies are worth looking into.

First Solar (FSLR)

Out of Phoenix AZ, FSLR designs, manufactures solar modules using thin-film semiconductor technology; a thin layer of cadmium telluride used for converting sunlight into electricity. Now at 128, the shares are down over 60%.

Ormat Technologies (ORA)

A true American success story, at 25.90, ORA shares are down over 50% from the high of 57.93. Reno NV firm develops, builds, owns and operates geothermal and recovered energy-based power plants in the United States and geothermal power plants in other countries around the world, and sells the electricity generated by these plants.

General Electric (GE)

World's top company is also a major provider of wind energy, solar power, water purification and many more emerging technologies. At 20.30, the stock is down by half and now yields 6.11%!

Applied Materials (AMAT) Inc.

Diversified USA technology company with the pioneering SunFab thin film solar line of photovoltaic electricity systems. A Silicon Valley stalwart based out of Santa Clara, California, AMAT is a quality tech stock with some leading edge solar power products, and it yields 1.94% at today's close of 12.35.

Google (GOOG)

When the USA and other major global economies rebound from the recent liquidity crunch, Google will still be the major corporate presence online and will thus see an expanded client list. With the shares closing today at 346.01, they are down by more than half. Google remains the number one company in the Internet sector, and seems able to weather any storms at least as well as its competitors.

Home Depot (HD)

An economic revival in the United States of America will mean busy Home Depot stores; housing will get renovated as "fix-er-up-ers" will return to the market and housing stock gets made energy-efficient and retrofitted for the emerging green homes market. Offers building materials, home improvement, lawn and garden products; sells to do-it-yourself, do-it-for-me, and professional, industry clients. At 21.89 HD yields 4.11%.

Energy Conversion Devices (ENER)

Out of Rochester Hills, Michigan, ENER has a long track record of quality and innovation in the USA, and deserves all the success it is getting. A way to invest in solar energy and battery technology in one company, and at 43.65 the shares are down by almost half.

MicroSoft Corp (MSFT)

Software developer famous for its windows operating system, its products include operating systems for servers, personal computers and intelligent devices, plus Xbox 360 video games console and game software. At 23.23, the shares trade at 12.4 times earnings, and yield 2.2%.

MEMC Electronic Materials

This St. Peters, Missouri silicon wafer producer has revenues in the $2 billion range and rapidly growing major customers. At today's close of 20.69 (down from an exuberant 96.08!!!), this extraordinarily profitable silicon provider trades at a crisis multiple of just 7.26 ...

Raser Technologies (RZ)

Raser Tech is a geothermal power development and electric motor company with exciting projects and prospects. At 6.50, the stock is down from 18.44. This Provo Utah firm has the potential to be a significant geothermal power producer in the years and decades to come.

Renewable Power Stocks News; September 2008

2008-10-02T19:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some news items and blog posts about alternative energy stocks and renewable power investing in recent weeks:

Renewable Power's Moment of Truth, by Sam Hopkins

Renewable Energy Tax Credits Included in Senate Bailout Package, by Nick Hodge

Renewable Power Industry Calls on Congressional Leadership

UPDATED Master List of Wind Energy Stocks

Clean Energy Search Engine, Renewable Power Stocks Portal

AWEA Position on USA Senate Renewable Energy Tax Proposal

Chrysler launching electric car, jeep, van, by Jeff Siegel

Bargain geothermal energy stocks? 4 geothermal companies worth researching

Wave Power Stocks, Tidal Energy Investing News

Global Water Conservation News, September 2008

Still Early Days for Green Energy Investing

Wind Energy Book Links, Solar Power Publications

4 Wind Power Stocks to Invest in Now, for the long term

Wind Power Stocks by Market Capitalization

Gifts for Greens; Solar Toys, Solar-powered Electronics

Tidal energy stocks, public wave power companies

Water Stocks In The News; Water Purification Investing

All Charged Up - Battery technology stocks worth exploring

Order Holiday gifts Online; Solar-powered Toys, Solar Electronics / Tools, Books on Solar Energy

2008-09-21T13:26:00.001-07:00

Solar-powered Toys and Gadgets

Solar-powered hopping frog:

Build a solar car and join the race to save the planet:

Toy Solar Boats and Amphibious solar Toy Vehicles:

Solar Powered Battery Recharger:

eMotion EM-SOL2GIG Solar Powered MP3/Video Portable Media Player with Solar Battery Charger and SD Card Slot:

Solar-powered School Supplies, Charity Gifts

Buy solar-powered calculators for school - ten pack:

Photovoltaic solar power and fuel cell science kits:

Photovoltaic attache case, sun-powered briefcase:

Subscribe to Solar Today magazine online:

Subscribe to Renewable Energy World magazine:

Solar Energy for Home, Cottage, Business

Photovoltaic Solar Garden Lights and Patio Lighting:

Solar-powered camera Home Security System:

Solar-powered products for home pool care:

Solar-electric fence system:

Solar Tools for Home, Garage and Shop

American Red Cross Solar / Windup Flashlight / Radio:

Eton Solar / Windup Cellphone Charger / Radio / Flashlight:

Solar Power Books, Solar Energy Technology Books

Got Sun? Go Solar by Rex Ewing

Homeowner's Guide to Renewable Energy by Dan Chiras

Photovoltaics for Professionals: Solar Electric Systems Marketing, Design and Installation

The Physics of Solar Cells by Jenny Nelson

Power to Change the World by S.L. Klein

Profiting from Clean Energy by Richard Asplund

Real Goods Solar Living Source Book - 30th Anniversary Edition: Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies

The Solar Economy by author Hermann Scheer

Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes Authors by Duffie and Beckman

The Solar House by Daniel D. Chiras

Solar Power Your Home For Dummies by Rik DeGunther

Solar Water Heating by Bob Ramlow, Benjamin Nusz

Stirring It Up; How To Make Money And Save the World, by Hirshberg

Sun-inspired House by Debra Rucker Coleman

Sun, Wind & Light by G. Z. Brown and Mark DeKay

Thin Film Solar Cells by Jef Poortmans and Vladimir Arkhipov

Applied Materials and SunPower solarize parking lot for clean energy generation

2008-09-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

AMAT and SPWR team up to build 21st Century parking lot

This type of photovoltaic power plant above an existing patrking lot is a model that can be replicated many thousands of times over across North America, and may even provide plug-in outlets to power the next generation of electric cars.

Applied Materials (Nasdaq: AMAT) and SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR) today announced completion of two SunPower solar power systems totaling 2.1 megawatts at Applied Materials' corporate facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. The systems represent the largest solar power deployment at a corporate facility in the United States.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080919/AQF026)

"This is an exciting milestone in the adoption of solar power in
California," said Mike Splinter, President and CEO of Applied Materials (AMAT). "More companies are realizing the wisdom of integrating solar as a non-intrusive, clean, silent form of energy generation into our businesses and communities. We've converted our parking lots to power plants and we encourage others to join us in making solar power a meaningful part of the energy supply."

The system includes a 950 kilowatt SunPower PowerGuard(R) installation and a 1.2 megawatt SunPower(R) Tracker installation atop an elevated parking canopy. The SunPower Tracker follows the sun as it moves across the sky, increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems. Both systems use SunPower solar panels, the most efficient panels available on the market today. SunPower uses Applied Materials' Baccini technology in its solar cell manufacturing process.

Since the first phase of installation in November 2007, Applied reports
that its solar installation has generated 1,413 megawatt hours of power. The system is expected to replace more than 2,700 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from approximately 450 passenger cars.

"Applied Materials has joined the ranks of the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Air Force in recognizing the value of solar as a mechanism for reducing exposure to volatile electric rates and promoting energy independence through the use of clean, renewable solar power," said Tom Werner, chief executive officer of SunPower.

Applied's investment is supported by the federal investment tax credit
(ITC) that encourages deployment of renewable energy systems across the
U.S. Due to expire at the end of 2008, Congress is now considering
legislation to extend the ITC.

"Congratulations to the leadership in the U.S. Senate for their efforts
to forge a bipartisan agreement on a long-term extension of the ITC,"
continued Werner. "According to a new study from Navigant Consulting, an
eight-year extension of the ITC would result in the creation of more than
1.2 million job opportunities and $232 billion in investment in the solar
energy sector."

Buy Renewable Energy Books Online

Research Geothermal Power Stocks Info

Invest in Wind Energy Stocks

Solar Energy Stocks by Market Capitalization

2008-09-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Solar Power Stocks Investing Info

A Rough snapshot in time, from Google Finance, closing prices September 12, 2008:

Name Exchange Symbol Mkt Cap

General Electric Co. NYSE GE 266B

Applied Materials Inc. NASDAQ AMAT 21.78B

First Solar, Inc. NASDAQ FSLR 17.18B

Schneider Electric SA EPA SU 15.55B

MEMC Electronic Materials NYSE WFR 7.76B

SunPower Corporation NASDAQ SPWR 7.09B

Q-Cells AG Solar QCLSF 6.7B

Energy Conversion Devices ENER 6.7B

Suntech Power Holdings NYSE STP 6.35B

LDK Solar Co. Ltd. NYSE LDK 4.34B

Cypress Semiconductor Corp NYSE CY 4.23B

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. OTC SANYY 3.54B

JA Solar Holdings Co. NASDAQ JASO 2.20B

Yingli Green Energy NYSE YGE 1.74B

Fairchild Semiconductor NYSE FCS 1.31B

GT Solar International, NASDAQ SOLR 1.31B

Evergreen Solar Inc. NASDAQ ESLR 1.04B

ReneSola Ltd. (ADR) NYSE SOL 942.89M

Canadian Solar Inc. NASDAQ CSIQ 888.95M

Trina Solar Limited NYSE TSL 701.34M

Ener1 Inc. AMEX HEV 667.66M

Solarfun Power Holdings NASDAQ SOLF 643.60M

China Sunergy Co. Ltd. NASDAQ CSUN 350.22M

Valence Technology Inc. NASDAQ VLNC 301.12M

5N Plus Inc. TSE VNP 284.83M

Ascent Solar Tech NASDAQ ASTI 132.88M

Beacon Power (BCON) energy storage company, Solar energy inverters, flywheel technology

DayStar Technologies NASDAQ DSTI 95.42M

Spire Solar NASDAQ SPIR 78.7B

SIMTEK Corporation NASDAQ SMTK 42.61M

Carmanah Technologies Corporation TSE CMH 42.33M

ZBB Energy Corporation AMEX ZBB 31.54M

more to come!!!

Complete list of publicly-traded wind energy stocks

Search Engine for Alternative Energy Stocks, Green Investing Research

2008-09-13T08:42:00.000-07:00

Clean Renewable Power Info Investors Research Network

Search alternative energy stocks, find clean energy company websites, research geothermal power technology, find green energy investment, alternative sources of energy, emerging clean energy companies, wavepower, tidal energy, green mutual funds, clean power stocks, wind energy companies websites links, publicly-traded renewable energy stocks, thin-film photovoltaic solar power websites:

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3 Best Alternative Energy Stocks plus Pundits Picks

2008-09-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

My top two renewable power equity investments are very easy for me; I really like the Geothermal energy powerhouse Ormat Technologies, and believe that Suzlon Energy, the windpower giant from India, is another extraordinary long term opportunity. In the near to medium term, the oil price has plenty of downside risk, which will create some short sharp buy-opps on the above two names.

Most people would expect First Solar to be near the top of my list, and though they are an awesome first-mover play in thin film solar, the technology and markets are wide open and everyone already knows about that stock. I'll play safe today and use Vestas as my 3rd pick. They are the number one wind energy company in the fastest growing green power sector.

Here are the 2007/2008 choices of other alternative energy bloggers / writers / analysts:

Tom Konrad AltEnergyStocks.com Dec 2007 #10, 9, 8

Tom Konrad AltEnergyStocks.com Dec 2007 #7, 6, 5, 4

Tom Konrad AltEnergyStocks.com Dec 2007 #3, 2, 1

Andrew Ling Top 5 Alternative Energy Stocks +10 Honorable Mentions

Twenty Top Alternative Energy Stocks from WindIntell.com

Five Alternative-Energy Stock Picks from Jim Jubak

Phillip Lyon likes Beacon Power, at Seeking Alpha

Microturbine and Fuel Cell Technology Companies; Capstone and Fuel Cell Energy

2008-08-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

Alternative energy investors are likely familiar with the excellent renewable power investing website www.AltEnergyStocks.com run by Tom Konrad, so some of you may have already read the company profiles below. Turbine manufacturer Capstone Microturbine (CPST) and molten carbonate fuel cell company Fuel Cell Energy (FCEL) are presented in the context of how their clean energy technologies can provide efficiency and find success in the emerging pure fuels economy.

Since it was written, CPST has risen to $2.72, while FCEL has dropped to $6.94, having been clubbed in recent days by widening 3rd quarter losses. Both names may still offer excellent capital gains potential for the speculative and long term investors looking to build diversified portfolios of emerging clean energy technology growth stocks.

Happy Sunday!

Joe T

Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology, distributed generation

(excerpted from a late '07 post by Tom Konrad on AltEnergyStocks.com)

Capstone Microturbine (NasdaqGM:CPST) $1.62 (30dec07), and

FuelCell Energy Inc. (NasdaqGM:FCEL) $10.30 (30dec07)

I'm bullish on both these companies because I'm bullish on distributed generation and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technologies. My intuition is that 2008 or 2009 will be the year that distributed generation and CHP grab the attention of Wall Street, the way thin-film PV stole the show in 2007. Both FuelCell and Capstone stand to benefit. They may even get a boost from making ethanol production more efficient.

Regular readers may be surprised that I am recommending a fuel cell stock, since I call Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles "a politically inspired boondoggle." But there are more types of fuel cells than hydrogen: molten carbonate or solid oxide fuel cells. FCEL makes a variant of molten carbonate fuel cell, called the Direct Fuel Cell (DFC), a different beast than the hydrogen fuel cells, because it can work without an external mechanism to reform the hydrogen.

FuelCell's DFCs burn methane rather than hydrogen, and are very tolerant not only of low heat content methane (which is often produced in anaerobic digestion or wastewater treatment.) Note that on page 10 of this EPA study [.pdf] of combined heat and power installations at wastewater treatment plants, a 300kW fuel cell requires a less expensive fuel treatment pressurization facility than a much smaller microturbine system. This is almost certainly due to the lower need for fuel pressurization.

Biogas can be a particularly tricky fuel given the presence of impurities such as H₂S and siloxanes which build up as deposits in combustion chambers. Microturbines, fuel cells, and internal combustion engines need fuel treatment if siloxanes (which are usually present in waste water treatment plants as a byproduct of deodorants) are present. Fuel cells and reciprocating engines also require the removal of H₂S. Nevertheless, wastewater treatment facilities combine an abundant source of free fuel (biogas) with a need for heating, and so present excellent opportunities for CHP.

Fuel cells are more efficient (47% fuel to electricity conversion) than comparably sized microturbines (30-35%) or internal combustion generators (about 40%), which not only translates into fuel savings (or higher electricity output), but also leads to only 85% or less CO₂ emissions than the less expensive (per kW) or internal combustion generators. Both microturbines and fuel cells get a large system efficiency boost when the heat is also used; both FuelCell and Capstone claim that their products can reach 80% overall efficiency in a CHP context, while the relatively small size of microturbines and fuel cells are particularly well suited to small scale industrial facilities and commercial buildings.

Rising fuel prices make efficient energy generation important and new fuel sources such as biogas and other waste gasses (such as the Ford plant using a DFC to make electricity from paint fumes) will present opportunities for both DFCs and microturbines in CHP and distributed generation applications. While DFCs have the advantage of working well on low energy content gas, microturbines are better suited to many projects due to their smaller size, and more fuel flexibility. Microturbines are much more tolerant of a wide variety of fuels, and can even handle the H₂S in digester gas, as noted above. Capstone sells versions which can run on liquid fuels such as diesel, propane, and kerosene. While fuel cells also have this capability, they are less tolerant of impurities, and FuelCell does not currently sell products for these markets.

One final advantage for microturbines is their ability to ramp up and down quickly, meaning they can used in remote locations with irregular fuel supplies, or when demand for electricity is not constant. DFCs are less able to ramp up and down because of the need to maintain a high temperature in the fuel cell stacks, so they will only be used when they can be always on, but their ability to supplement biogas with natural gas from the pipeline system still means that they can be used with fuel of variable availability.

FuelCell's DFC and Capstone's microturbines should be able to compete effectively with internal combustion engines in distributed generation applications, since reciprocating engines are too large for many potential projects. Rising energy prices and tightening emissions limits should allow DFCs to slowly increase their market share in a rapidly growing market. Incidentally, there has also been a successful test of a fuel cell/microturbine hybrid system [.pdf], with a Capstone turbine generating electricity from the waste heat of a fuel cell.

Capstone finished 2008 with a year-end surge because of new rules which streamline the installation of microturbines in New York City, but could easily continue higher, if I am right about distributed generation taking off. The new NYC guidelines could easily be one sign of the beginning of this trend. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised to see a small price retreat in January. It may be wise to wait a couple weeks and see what happens with CPST.

Above analysis excerpted from: 10 Alternative Energy Stocks for 2008

More Renewable Energy Investing links:

WindIntell.com Wind Energy Stocks Investing

Geotherma.info Geothermal Power Investments

Solar Power Stocks, Alternative Energy Companies

Global Clean Energy: Top Ten Renewable Power Stocks

2008-08-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

August 2008 Top Ten Alternative Energy Companies

Publicly-traded major green power stocks:

General Electric alternative energy - Leader in wind energy, solar power and water purification

Suzlon Wind energy turbine manufacturer - Only Vestas and GE are in this league

Vestas global windpower leader, gets a premium for its quality wind energy turbines

Ormat Tech USA geothermal power industry leading company

First Solar leading thin film solar energy company

Toyota clean vehicle manufacturer

SunPower Corp solar panel manufacturing company

Q-Cells AG European photovoltaic solar power company

Energy Conversion Devices, USA alternative energy technology company

Honda pioneering clean car technology

More Alternative Energy Investing Links:

Full list of Solar Power Stocks

Publicly-listed Wind Energy Companies

Geothermal Power Stocks Investing

Green Party of Canada enters Canadian Parliament with first MP

2008-08-30T10:16:00.000-07:00

Days before a federal election call, independent MP Blair Wilson has officially joined the Greens, thus ensuring Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May will be able to participate in nationally televised election debates. One would hope that this will lead to increased national discussion about wind energy development in Canada, plus geothermal power and other clean energy technologies.

The excerpt below is from an article by Bruce Cheadle of The Canadian Press.

Enjoy the long weekend,

Joe T

Green party announces first federal Member of Parliament

August 30th, 2008

By Bruce Cheadle, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - The Green party has gained it's first ever federal member of Parliament - even before an anticipated fall election call.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May introduced Independent MP Blair Wilson - a former Liberal first elected in 2006 - as a Green MP at a news conference Saturday morning in the capital.

May characterized the move as an historic moment, and said it provides her fledgling party with an entry into the mainstream media election debates.

"With a Green MP sitting in the House of Commons, it will now be impossible to exclude the Green party from the televised leaders' debates in the next election," said May.

Wilson said he approached the Green party about possible representation only within the past week and "the sun and the moon and stars all lined up," to get him aboard.

The party's 1.5 million votes in the 2006 election, combined with continued strong national polling numbers near 10 per cent and federal byelection results that have placed Green candidates ahead of other mainstream party contenders all point to a legitimate political entity, said May.

"We've established ourselves as a party that cannot be described as fringe."

But whether Wilson ever enters the House of Commons as a Green party MP will likely be determined by voters in his riding of West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country later this autumn.

That's no sure thing.

The Vancouver MP resigned from the Liberal caucus last fall after allegations of spending irregularities in his 2006 campaign.

Elections Canada finally cleared Wilson this summer of any improprieties following an eight-month investigation, and May said he shared "deep and detailed" financial information with the Green party over the past week that proves his innocence.

Wilson is also contemplating a defamation suit against family members following an ugly financial dispute.

Wilson won his Vancouver seat, which had been held by Conservative party stalwart John Reynolds, in a tough three-way fight with the Tories and NDP after Reynolds' retired from politics and did not run in 2006.

"Not only do I embrace the policies of my new party, I will feel that all my past difficulties are justified if, by my actions, I can make a real difference by ensuring Elizabeth May is included in the leaders' debates," Wilson said in a statement.

"There is a democracy deficit in Canadian politics and this is one step in restoring effective democracy in Canada".

Full story: Green Party representative in Canada's Parliament

McCain VP choice Palin a reactionary to the core

2008-08-29T17:27:00.000-07:00

Perhaps history will vindicate him, but if you were an old man facing tremendous responsibilities including possibly picking the next President of the USA after yourself, should health issues arise, would you choose a northern village chief with her head in the sand?

Didn't think so.

Republicans now have Twin Dinosaurs - His'n'Hers

The key to a prosperous America and a safer world is shifting away from Texan-Saudi control of the planet to a more decentralized approach to energy and economy. Texas is connected to Alaska via Alberta, through psychographics and mutual interest. Sarah Palin is an anti-abortion, anti-gay, anti-environment, anti-clean energy reactionary and offers no substance to counteract the shallowness of McCain's personality and intellect.

Her husband works for BP, and she has advocated the teaching of creationism, an abomination to both scientists and priests. In some ways she's more like the Colbert character than the character himself is, and though that is funny, it's even more scary.

Pray for Peace, and carry a big sign,

Joe T

Renewable Energy Website Links:

WindIntell.com Wind Energy Stocks Investing

Geotherma.info Geothermal Power Company Stock Quotes

Barack Obama speech 28aug08: American Energy Independence Within 10 Years!!!

2008-08-28T19:36:00.000-07:00

USA Energy Independence in Ten Years; Five Million New Clean Energy Jobs

Obama knocked it out of the park in Denver and he has committed his administration to solar energy, windpower, biomass energy and other renewable power technologies. The Barack Obama alternative energy plan for the USA is also expected to create 5 million new jobs in the clean energy sector.

Find below some choice excerpts from the Barack Obama speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver.

Go Barack!

Joe

Excerpt fro August 28th, 2008 speech by Barack Obama:

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America – the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.

That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.

Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

I will cut taxes – cut taxes – for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.

And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Washington's been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he's said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.

Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.

As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I'll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy – wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced.

America, now is not the time for small plans.

Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance. I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American – if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for a sick child or ailing parent.

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses; and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime – by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less – because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy.

And Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America's promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our "intellectual and moral strength." Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents; that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework; that fathers must take more responsibility for providing the love and guidance their children need.

Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility – that's the essence of America's promise.

And just as we keep our keep our promise to the next generation here at home, so must we keep America's promise abroad. If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next Commander-in-Chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have.

More: Excerpts from NYTimes.com Barack Obama speech in Denver

Joe Biden speech; "Obama's alternative energy plan will create 5 million new jobs in the USA"

2008-08-27T20:15:00.000-07:00

Joe is a man of the people and it was great to see him connect again tonight. Contrasting the dinosaur-ish McCain with the modern visionary Barack Obama, Joe succinctly laid out one of the most attractive benefits of investing in renewable power sources such as thin film solar power, geothermal energy plants, windpower farms, biofuels and wave / tidal power.

Joe Biden Energy Policy in Acceptance Speech:

I profoundly disagree with the direction that John wants to take the country. For example,

John thinks that during the Bush years "we've made great progress economically." I think it's been abysmal.

And in the Senate, John sided with President Bush 95 percent of the time. Give me a break. When John McCain proposes $200 billion in new tax breaks for corporate America, $1 billion alone for just eight of the largest companies, but no relief for 100 million American families, that's not change; that's more of the same.

Even today, as oil companies post the biggest profits in history--a half trillion dollars in the last five years--he wants to give them another $4 billion in tax breaks. But he voted time and again against incentives for renewable energy: solar, wind, biofuels. That's not change; that's more of the same.

Millions of jobs have left our shores, yet John continues to support tax breaks for corporations that send them there. That's not change; that's more of the same.

He voted 19 times against raising the minimum wage. For people who are struggling just to get to the next day, that's not change; that's more of the same.

And when he says he will continue to spend $10 billion a month in Iraq when Iraq is sitting on a surplus of nearly $80 billion, that's not change; that's more of the same.

The choice in this election is clear. These times require more than a good soldier; they require a wise leader, a leader who can deliver change--the change everybody knows we need.

Barack Obama will deliver that change. Barack Obama will reform our tax code. He'll cut taxes for 95 percent of the American people who draw a paycheck. That's the change we need.

Barack Obama will transform our economy by making alternative energy a genuine national priority, creating 5 million new jobs and finally freeing us from the grip of foreign oil. That's the change we need.

Democratic VP Candidate Joe Biden speech in Denver

Below are Joe Biden's remarks from the Democratic Convention on August 27th in Denver Colrado, as prepared for delivery.

------

Beau, I love you. I am so proud of you. Proud of the son you are. Proud of the father you've become. And I'm so proud of my son Hunter, my daughter Ashley, and my wife Jill, the only one who leaves me breathless and speechless at the same time.

It is an honor to share this stage tonight with President Clinton. And last night, it was moving to watch Hillary, one of the great leaders of our party, a woman who has made history and will continue to make history: my colleague and my friend, Senator Hillary Clinton.

And I am honored to represent our first state--my state--Delaware.

Since I've never been called a man of few words, let me say this as simply as I can: Yes. Yes, I accept your nomination to run and serve alongside our next President of the United States of America, Barack Obama.

Let me make this pledge to you right here and now. For every American who is trying to do the right thing, for all those people in government who are honoring their pledge to uphold the law and respect our Constitution, no longer will the eight most dreaded words in the English language be: "The vice president's office is on the phone."

Barack Obama and I took very different journeys to this destination, but we share a common story. Mine began in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and then Wilmington, Delaware. With a dad who fell on hard economic times, but who always told me: "Champ, when you get knocked down, get up. Get up."

I wish that my dad was here tonight, but I am so grateful that my mom, Catherine Eugenia Finnegan Biden, is here. You know, she taught her children--all the children who flocked to our house--that you are defined by your sense of honor, and you are redeemed by your loyalty. She believes bravery lives in every heart and her expectation is that it will be summoned.

Failure at some point in everyone's life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable. As a child I stuttered, and she lovingly told me it was because I was so bright I couldn't get the thoughts out quickly enough. When I was not as well dressed as others, she told me how handsome she thought I was. When I got knocked down by guys bigger than me, she sent me back out and demanded that I bloody their nose so I could walk down that street the next day.

After the accident, she told me, "Joey, God sends no cross you cannot bear." And when I triumphed, she was quick to remind me it was because of others.

My mother's creed is the American creed: No one is better than you. You are everyone's equal, and everyone is equal to you.

My parents taught us to live our faith, and treasure our family. We learned the dignity of work, and we were told that anyone can make it if they try.

That was America's promise. For those of us who grew up in middle-class neighborhoods like Scranton and Wilmington, that was the American dream and we knew it.

But today that American dream feels as if it's slowly slipping away. I don't need to tell you that. You feel it every single day in your own lives.

I've never seen a time when Washington has watched so many people get knocked down without doing anything to help them get back up. Almost every night, I take the train home to Wilmington, sometimes very late. As I look out the window at the homes we pass, I can almost hear what they're talking about at the kitchen table after they put the kids to bed.

Like millions of Americans, they're asking questions as profound as they are ordinary. Questions they never thought they would have to ask:

* Should mom move in with us now that dad is gone?
* Fifty, sixty, seventy dollars to fill up the car?
* Winter's coming. How we gonna pay the heating bills?
* Another year and no raise?
* Did you hear the company may be cutting our health care?
* Now, we owe more on the house than it's worth. How are we going to send the kids to college?
* How are we gonna be able to retire?

That's the America that George Bush has left us, and that's the future John McCain will give us. These are not isolated discussions among families down on their luck. These are common stories among middle-class people who worked hard and played by the rules on the promise that their tomorrows would be better than their yesterdays.

That promise is the bedrock of America. It defines who we are as a people. And now it's in jeopardy. I know it. You know it. But John McCain doesn't get it.

Barack Obama gets it. Like many of us, Barack worked his way up. His is a great American story.

You know, I believe the measure of a man isn't just the road he's traveled; it's the choices he's made along the way. Barack Obama could have done anything after he graduated from college. With all his talent and promise, he could have written his ticket to Wall Street. But that's not what he chose to do. He chose to go to Chicago. The South Side. There he met men and women who had lost their jobs. Their neighborhood was devastated when the local steel plant closed. Their dreams deferred. Their dignity shattered. Their self-esteem gone.

And he made their lives the work of his life. That's what you do when you've been raised by a single mom, who worked, went to school and raised two kids on her own. That's how you come to believe, to the very core of your being, that work is more than a paycheck. It's dignity. It's respect. It's about whether you can look your children in the eye and say: we're going to be ok.

Because Barack made that choice, 150,000 more children and parents have health care in Illinois. He fought to make that happen. And because Barack made that choice, working families in Illinois pay less taxes and more people have moved from welfare to the dignity of work. He got it done.

And when he came to Washington, I watched him hit the ground running, leading the fight to pass the most sweeping ethics reform in a generation. He reached across party lines to pass a law that helps keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists. And he moved Congress and the president to give our wounded veterans the care and dignity they deserve.

You can learn an awful lot about a man campaigning with him, debating him and seeing how he reacts under pressure. You learn about the strength of his mind, but even more importantly, you learn about the quality of his heart.

I watched how he touched people, how he inspired them, and I realized he has tapped into the oldest American belief of all: We don't have to accept a situation we cannot bear.

We have the power to change it. That's Barack Obama, and that's what he will do for this country. He'll change it.

John McCain is my friend. We've known each other for three decades. We've traveled the world together. It's a friendship that goes beyond politics. And the personal courage and heroism John demonstrated still amaze me.

Full text: Complete Transcript of Joe Biden VP Acceptance speech in Denver

More alternative energy links:

Wind Energy Stocks Windpower company website links

Geothermal Power Stocks, Geothermal Company Investing

Excerpts from Joe Biden Interview on Energy Policy

2008-08-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

The following excerpts are from a Grist.org interview with Senator Joseph Biden, conducted by Amanda Griscom Little

Joe Biden Photo by Michael Millholin

Question: You've said that your first priority is "energy security." Can you clarify what this goal means and how you'd achieve it?

Answer: If the predictions of the scientists are correct, you could see ocean levels rise three feet. If that occurs, you're going to displace over 35 million people just in South Asia, and they're going to physically be looking for a new place to land. Just that, all by itself, is going to initiate major new conflicts relating to war. You're going to have nations fighting over arable land, more border disputes, and, as a consequence, a great deal of instability.

Question: How would you achieve energy security? What specifically do we need to do to get there?

Answer: To deal with global warming, you have to change the attitude of the world, particularly China and India, the two largest developing nations. But in order to do that, to have any credibility, you have to begin here in the United States by capping emissions, increasing renewable fuels, establishing a national renewable portfolio standard, requiring better fuel economy for automobiles. I would cap emissions at 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 and set a national RPS of 20 percent. I would announce an executive order that the federal government would not purchase one single automobile for its fleet that gets less than 40 miles to the gallon. And I would not build a single solitary federal project without it being a green project. That would have the effect of getting states to do the same thing, and that would create a pot of somewhere between a third and a half a trillion dollars that would be a lure to every major business in America to go green.

These measures would put us in a position to be able to actually attempt to lead the world. But we have no credibility right now.

Question: Where does ethanol fit into your plan?

Answer: Ethanol is a good start. Because of the amount of [resources] that go into producing corn-based ethanol, it has only marginally less impact on the consumption of fossil fuels. But it has two real advantages: it begins to give us the margin of flexibility we need to deal with being held hostage to any one of the seven unstable countries that supply 35 percent of our oil -- Nigeria, Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, etc. No. 2, it's a transitional means by which you're going to be pouring billions of dollars into the fields of the Midwest, rather than the sands of Saudi Arabia or the pockets of Chavez.

Full text at www.Grist.org: Interview with VP candidate Joe Biden on Grist.org

More fun links:

BeesTreesFrogsElephants.com Nature and Ecology Blog

A Green Realtor Blog

Harness Racing September Stakes Schedule

Joe Biden is progressive on energy policy and the environment

2008-08-23T12:03:00.000-07:00

Though politics most often involves choosing a lesser evil, Joe Biden offers a powerful antidote to the folksiness of McCain. Considering that John McCain is ignorant about energy and believes that 20th century technology will help America compete, it is encouraging that Barack has chosen someone with strong credentials as a running mate. Joe is a friend of McCain's so his coming attacks on the GOP candidate will be based on policy differences, not questions of motivation or personal grudges. Senator Joseph Biden is also a champion of women's rights and has helped shape policies that have reduced violence against women.

Joe is a globally respected foreign policy expert that can do much to heal the damage done by the arrogant navel gazing of the Bush-Cheney-Rice triumvirate.

"He is uniquely suited to work as my partner to get our country back on track" said Barack Obama as he introduced Joe Biden this afternoon, August 23rd, 2008.

Below you will find the section from the Wikipedia page on Joe Biden's political positions on USA energy policy and environmental policies, and though it is concise, it bodes well for the USA's ability to compete in the coming decades. The rest of the world is already moving beyond The Pickens Plan to a myriad of localized clean energy solutions, while many Americans are still nervous about taking even these baby steps as a way to get off the economy-crushing foreign oil addiction.

Forward to the future,

Joe Trainor, in Toronto

Energy Policy of Joe Biden

Biden opposes drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and supports governmental funding to find new energy sources.

Biden believes action must be taken on global warming. He supports the creation of a new treaty on climate change that would require emissions reductions from developing countries such as Brazil, India, China, and Mexico. He has also stated his support for investment in technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the creation of a "cap and trade" system. Biden supports the promotion of renewable energy, including biodiesel fuels but not ethanol.

Mr. Biden says as president his top priority would be "energy security." He has also been quoted as saying "If I could wave a wand, and the Lord said I could solve one problem, I would solve the energy crisis."

Environment

He co-sponsored the "Sense of the Senate" resolution calling on the United States to be a part of the United Nations climate negotiations and the "Boxer-Sanders Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act", the most stringent climate bill in the United States Senate.[4] He voted "Yes" on a $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas and "No" for drilling in ANWR on national security grounds and defunding renewable and solar energy.

Invest in Clean Energy Companies:

Windpower Stocks, Renewable Energy Investing Info

Geothermal Stocks, Geothermal Power company website links

SolarWall by Conserval Engineering shines at 2008 Beijing Olympics

2008-08-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

Admittedly most of the good news about these Olympics is out, and the other shoe is just lightly touching down. Not here though; here's a positive story about an emerging solar electricity company that is flaunting its design in the heart of Beijing, China.

From the Financial Post, a division of Canada's National Post.

A SOLAR GOLD AT THE 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES in Beijing

by Duncan Mavin, Financial Post Published: Monday, August 11, 2008

HONG KONG -With Beijing's futuristic Olympic venues drawing almost as much attention as the athletes on show, a private Canadian solar power company is hoping that having its product provide energy to the Games will boost its standing in the rapidly growing global solar power sector.

Conserval Engineering Inc., a 30-year-old renewable energy business based in Toronto, has installed two of its SolarWall panels in the Beijing Olympic Village, including a cutting-edge hybrid solar system that generates both electricity and heat energy.

The two giant panels -- 35 square metres and 100 square metres apiece -- are fixed on to buildings that will become a kindergarten after the Games and have already fuelled more interest in SolarWall's technology, said Conserval's Adam Wei.

But while the company's Olympic success may be its most high-profile win, Conserval has already been selling its product to Chinese universities, real estate developers, shopping malls, and even Petro China's oil fields for the past three years, says Mr. Wei, speaking from the company's Chinese headquarters in the port city of Qingdao.

Privately held Conserval, which has sales in about 30 countries, does not make its accounts public, but says sales have risen about 50% a year for the past few years.

In fact, the attention Conserval has recently garnered reflects the exponential growth in the market for solar power. Concerns about global warming and rising energy prices have powered interest in the sector, said Charles Yonts, a solarpower analyst with Hong Kong-based investment bank CSLA Ltd.

Some analysts forecast global solar-energy revenue will jump to as much as US$124-billion by 2010 from US$13-billion in 2005, and while worldwide shipments of solar-power products have already grown at an annual rate of 40% over the past five years, sales are expected to soar even faster in the next few years, according to a recent report from Lehman Brothers.

The German and U. S. markets are particularly strong, but interest in China is also developing quickly. The country's 10%-plus annual growth rate has been driven mostly by fossil fuels, but the government is wary of becoming overly reliant on imported oil, says Bob Gorman, chief portfolio strategist at TD Waterhouse Inc in Toronto.

In addition, "leadership in the rapidly growing solar industry would be a great attribute for the Chinese economy and aid in its transformation from a low-cost provider of basic products to a developer and exporter of more technologically advanced manufactured goods," Mr. Gorman said.

Globally, the rapid development of the industry is so strong that one of the biggest problems facing the solar market now is a shortage of the raw materials used in most panels, which -- along with concerns about whether governments worldwide will continue to support the industry with subsidies -- has put a dent in the share prices of some of the largest solar-power providers. For instance, sector-leading Suntech Power Holdings Co., based in Wuxi, China, has seen its stock slip 57% from its December, 2007, high.

There are also concerns for all solar suppliers about a glut in solar-energy supply once issues with raw materials are overcome. "Once that supply shortage is corrected, you may well see more supply than demand, which could cause pricing issues for solar producers," said TD's Mr. Gorman. Also, to the extent there's a correction in oil prices and the shares of its producers, there could be some corresponding short-term weakness in shares of solar-energy producers, he added.

Still, the long-term future for the industry looks good with plenty of room to grow.

"Solar will still be a drop in the global electricity market, accounting for just 1.5% of installed generating power in 2011, up from 0.3% at the end of 2007," said Mr. Yonts.

And while most analysts believe companies with the supply chain or sales distribution advantages will be best-placed to take advantage of the market's expansion, companies, such as privately held Conserval, that can showcase a technological advancement will also be hoping to cash in.

Full story from: Financial Post article on SolarWall in Beijing

Links to check:

Official SolarWall company website, Conserval Engineering

Windpower Stocks, Renewable Energy Investing Info

Geothermal Power Stocks, Geothermal Company Website Links

Somebeachsomewhere videos and links at Harness Horses Info Net

EXPANDED List of Solar Power and Renewable Energy Stocks Company Websites

2008-08-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

Solar Energy investing, Renewable Power stocks and Solar Energy company website links

Find links to publicly-listed solar energy stocks, solar power investing information, fuel cells, green energy links, geothermal power investments and wind energy companies website links.

Major Publicly-traded Solar Power Company stock Links:

5N Plus Inc. english website

Applied Materials maker of Sunfab thin film solar products

Canadian Solar (CSIQ), designer / manufacturer of solar electricity systems

centrotherm photovolatics AG (eiCTN), english language website

Conergy AG (eiCGY) aolar thermal and photovoltaic solar power systems

Energy Conversion Devices page at Yahoo Finance

ErSol Solar Energy (eiES6) European solar power manufacturer / distributor

Evergreen Solar website ESLR

First Solar (FSLR) leading solar company info

JA Solar Holdings (JASO) China-based solar power company

LDK Solar (LDK), manufacturer of solar power cells

OyNot.com Solar Energy and Batteries

Phoenix solar AG (eiPS4), leading photovoltaic systems wholesaler and intergrator

PBD - Info on PowerShares Global Clean Energy Fund

PV Crystalox Solar (lLPVCS ) leading manufacturer of multicrystalline silicon ingots and wafers

Q-Cells AG (eiQCE) photovoltaic solar energy company

Renewable Energy Corp (eoREC) - Norway Solar Power company

Roth & Rau (eiR8R), solar energy plasma technology, english website

Solaria Energia (eDSLR), Spain-based solar collector manufacturer, thermal and electric

Solar Millennium AG (eiS2M), global solar thermal energy company

SolarWorld AG (eiSWV) - solar energy firm in Germany

Solon AG (eiSOO1), integrated photovoltaic solar building materials

Spire Solar company info at Yahoo Finance; SPIR

SunPower Corp (SPWR) solar electric energy company

SunTech Power (STP) solar energy company in China

Trina Solar ADS (TSL)

Wind Energy Company websites; Windpower Info online

Yingli Green Energy (YGE), China and global solar power company

Privately Owned Solar Power Companies

Global Solar Energy, thin film solar company in Tucson Arizona USA

Heliovolt, Austin Texas manufacturer of thin film solar energy products

Nanosolar - Solar energy technology company

Scientific American article on thin film solar power technology

Wind Energy Investing Links

* Acciona Wind Energy (ANA.MC)
* Babcock and Brown Wind Partners (ASX: BBW BBWPF.PK)
* Boralex Wind Energy info
* Clipper Windpower (CWPR.L) Wind Turbine Manufacturing
* Gamesa Corp (GAM.MC) alternative energy website
* Naikun Windpower company information
* SkyPower Windpower Investment Fund
* Sky Power - Canadian windpower firm
* Suzlon Energy (SUZL) Indian wind power stock
* Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF) Danish windpower company
* Western Wind Energy (WND: TSX.V) publicly-listed stock
* Xantrex Technology (XTX) solar energy inverters

Alternative Energy Investing; Clean Power Stocks

* Calvert Global Alternative Energy Investment Fund (CGAEX)
* Canadian Hydro (KHD) windpower developments
* Canada Windpower Atlas
* Geothermal Energy Investing Info
* Directory of Top Alternative Energy Websites
* Naikun Wind Energy British Columbia development
* Ormat Tech (ORA) geothermal power leading company

More Clean Energy websites, Green Power Blogs, Renewable Power stocks Investing Info:

American Solar Energy Society

Ardour Solar Energy Index list of companies

Bees Trees Frogs Elephants Nature Website

Directory of Solar Power Info Online

DOE Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Power Website

EcoWorld.com - Nature and Technology In Harmony

FuelCellToday.com - Fuel Cell Industry Information

Geothermal.info Geothermal Power stocks investing blog

Green-Energy-News.com

Green Realtor Website

Hawaii Green Homes Land

Home Power Magazine - Official Website

International Solar Energy Society main website

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) for renewable power R&D, energy efficiency

Net Metering information

PanTerra Clean Energy Business Parks

Renewable Energy Access Website

Renewable Energy Focus

RenewableEnergyStocks.com Global Stock List

Renewable Power Investing website

Solar Buzz Renewable Energy Investments

Science Daily Solar Energy Information

SolarBuzz.com Best Solar Energy Website

Solar Energy Investment Blog

The Solar Intelligence Blog

SunPoweredDreams.com Green Energy Blog

Windpower Monthly wind energy news magazine from New Zealand

Renewable Energy Stocks, Windpower Investing Info

News stories on publicly-listed green energy stocks; renewable power links

2008-08-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Links to renewable power articles in the news, recent stories on windpower, solar energy investments, geothermal energy stocks and water desalination, water purification, water technology company stocks.

Full List of Windpower Stocks, wind energy company links

News stories, The Pickens Plan for American Energy Independence

The T. Boone Pickens Plan, Commentary and Analysis

Canada has massive potential for geothermal energy development

Micro-turbine manufacturer Capstone (CPST) To Make Turbines that Run on Solar Power

India's Titan Energy building 2 megawatt grid-connected solar plant

Clinton Foundation proposal to build world's largest solar farm in Gujarat, India

Solar Highway Installation Starts in Oregon - from Environment News Service

Forbes.com story on bullish analyst sentiment for First Solar (FSLR), thin film solar powerhouse

Geothermal power stock links, cogeneration company websites

Solar Energy stock list, article and analysis from the globe and mail

Palestinian swimmer provides glimmer of hope with his Olympic dream

T. Boone Pickens Interview on The Pickens Plan in New York Times

Complete List of Alternative Energy, Water Technology and Renewable Power Stocks

Water Purification stocks, water desalination companies

Bloomberg.com article on windpower giant Suzlon Energy (SUZL) reporting higher margins - July 31, 2008

Proposed Clean Energy IPOs, New Windpower and solar energy stocks:

* First Wind Holdings Inc company website. $450 Million IPO Filing (Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:00:00 PDT) info from Green IPO Watch at Renewableenergystocks.com

* GT Solar International Inc official website. Prices Initial Public Offering (Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:00:00 PDT) GT Solar International, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOLR) today announced that the initial public offering of 30.3 million shares of its common stock has been priced at $16.50 per share.

* Western Wind Energy Corp. announces filing of final short form prospectus and conversion of special warrants (Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:00:00 PDT) Western Wind Energy Corp. (" Western Wind" or the "Company") announces that it has filed its final short form prospectus dated July 24, 2008

Water technolgy, conservation and purification stocks

2008-08-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

Clean energy is my area of expertise but pure water is also an essential human requirement, thusly methinks that our planet will move to a deeper understanding and higher appreciation of water in coming years. I am also a singer-writer, and next week will be mastering my new song Water, a tune I've been working on for over two years.

If anyone is making a film or TV show about water, you can check the song on www.myspace.com/yuya and contact me thru here or there if desiring to utilize the track.

Peace 2 All,

Yuya

These water technology opportunities are initially from the www.water-stocks.com website run by InvestorIdeas.com, though I will add to this list in coming months:

Aalberts Industries N.V. (Amsterdam:AALB.AS) is an international industrial group with two core activities, Industrial Services and Flow Control, and occupies top positions in the market in each of these activities. Aalberts Industries operates on the basis of a decentralized structure with significant operational management responsibilities.

American Water Corp (NYSE: AWK) Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest investor-owned U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs nearly 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to approximately 15.6 million people in 32 states and Ontario, Canada

Ameron International Corporation (NYSE: AMN) Ameron International Corporation is a multinational manufacturer of highly-engineered products and materials for the chemical, industrial, energy, transportation and infrastructure markets. Ameron is a leading producer of water transmission lines

Amiad Filtration Systems Ltd. (LSE:AFS.L) is a producer and global supplier of water filters and filtration systems. The Company's key markets are the industrial and municipal market and the irrigation market

Asia Environment Holdings Ltd (SIN:A58) is an investment holding company. Through its subsidiaries, it provides integrated water and wastewater treatment solutions in the People's Republic of China. It has three segments. The turnkey projects and services segment is engaged in the provision of turnkey services involving the entire process from consultancy design, production, construction and engineering, installation and commissioning of water and wastewater treatment systems, and research and development work on water and wastewater treatment equipment and techniques. The manufacturing segment is involved in the manufacture, fabrication, sales and installation of generic or custom-manufactured specialized equipment for water and wastewater treatment systems. The build-operate-transfer projects segment is engaged in the construction and operation of water treatment facilities. In January 2008, the Company established a wholly owned subsidiary, Anqing Penyao Wastewater Treatment Pte. Ltd.

Asia Water Technology Ltd. (SIN:5GB) is an investment holding company that specializes in offering total engineering solutions for water purification and wastewater treatment systems. It operates in three business segments. The water purification treatment segment is engaged in the design, assembly, installation and commissioning of water purification treatment systems, as well as technology development of such water purification systems, and treatment of raw water drawn from underground and treatment of tap water. The wastewater treatment segment is involved in the supply and installation of equipment used in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment systems. The others segment is engaged in the trading of water treatment equipment and miscellaneous peripheral contracts, which includes coal conveying control system and chemical cleaning.

AWG Plc (AWG.L), One of the country's largest water utilities, AWG provides regulated water, wastewater, and environmental services to some 6 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers through its Anglian Water unit.

Badger Meter, Inc. (AMEX: BMI) is a marketer and manufacturer of products using flow measurement and control technologies developed both internally and with other technology companies. The Company's products are used to measure and control the flow of liquids in a variety of applications. Its product lines fall into two general categories: utility and industrial. Two product lines, residential and commercial water meters (with various meter reading technology systems) are generally sold to water utilities. Industrial sales consist of the remainder of the sales and include automotive fluid meters and systems, small precision valves, electromagnetic meters, impeller flow meters and industrial process meters (all with related accessories and instrumentation). Residential and commercial water meters and related systems provide the majority of the Company's sales.

Basin Water, Inc. (BWTR:NASDAQ) engages in the design, building, and implementation of groundwater treatment systems in the United States. It offers a proprietary ion-exchange wellhead treatment system that reduces groundwater contaminant levels. The system could be used to treat a range of contaminants, including arsenic, nitrate, and perchlorate.

Beijing Capital Co., Ltd. (SHA:600008) . is engaged in various businesses, such as the toll collection of Jingtong expressway, the operation of hotels, the leasing of assets, the treatment of wastewater, as well as the manufacture and distribution of tap water. The Company operates its businesses primarily in Beijing, Jiangsu Province, Shaanxi Province, Zhejiang Province, Anhui Province, Hebei Province and Shandong Province, the People's Republic of China. During the year ended December 31, 2006, approximately 39%, 36% and 17% of its total revenue came from its tap water business, treatment of wastewater and toll collection business, respectively. As of December 31, 2006, the Company had 14 major subsidiaries and three major associates

BioShaft (OTCBB:BSHF) - wastewater treatment technology based on Bio-Filtration utilizing sludge carriers. These plants are made using the Hans BioShaft Turbine that is at the heart of the wastewater technology. It was developed in the Netherlands in 1994 and was improved upon by Dr. Hans Badreddine and implemented as Hans BioShaft®. It is patented in the United Kingdom and the patent is pending in the United States.

Bioteq Environmental Technologi (BQE.V) BioteQ builds and operates water treatment plants providing profitable metal recovery and sustainable environmental solutions.

Calgon Carbon Corp (NYSE: CCC) offers products, services, and solutions for purification of water and air in the United States. It operates in three segments: Activated Carbon and Service, Equipment, and Consumer. Activated Carbon and Service segment manufactures granular activated carbon for use in applications to remove organic compounds from water, air and other liquids and gases. Activated carbon is a porous material that removes organic compounds from liquids and gases through adsorption process. Equipment segment designs and sells equipment which employs activated carbon and ion exchange resins for purification, separation, and concentration, as well as offers ISEP (ionic separator) continuous ion exchange units for the purification various products in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries. Consumer segment primarily offers carbon cloth, which include PreZerve storage products line and AllGone odor elimination system. It offers its products primarily to potable water, industrial process, environmental water and air, food, and specialty markets.

CDS Technologies Limited (CDX.AX) storm water treatment products. Engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of water and wastewater solutions, primarily continuous deflective separation technology, which is a non-blocking screening technology that removes solids from liquids. It has three geographic segments: Australia, USA and UK. These segments are engaged in design, construction and delivery functions with sales offices servicing all states and territories in their respective countries. The USA segment offers media filtration product. During the fiscal year ended June 30, 2006, under the UK segment, CDS' subsidiary, Copa Limited, offered traditional wastewater products, and established process technologies, including hybrid biological nutrient removal, CDS storm water solutions for sustainable urban drainage systems market, and the membrane bio reactors that provide near-tap water effluent quality. In October 2006, Groupe Laperriere & Verreault Inc. acquired Copa Limited and Copa Water Pty Limited from CDS

China Evergreen Environmental Corporation (OTCBB: CEEC.OB) is a leading designer, engineer and developer of waste water treatment facilities in China. With its proprietary technology resources and project management experience, the Company provides both turn-key and BOT (build-operate-transfer) services to a range of industrial companies and municipalities throughout China. The Company also makes sales of its proprietary GM Bio-carriers, a natural, chemical-free process that improves the efficiency of the waste water treatment process

Christ Water Technology AG purification desalination(WBAG:CWT) is an Austria-based company active in the provision of technologies, components and services in the field of pure and ultra pure water production, drinking water production and the treatment of wastewater and sewage. The Company is divided into four business segments.

Dakshidin Corp water pumping windmills (OTCPK:DKSC) and its wholly owned subsidiary RESTEC International Inc, manufacturers of water pumping windmills. The developments of RESTEC International Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dakshidin Corporation, provide significant contributions to the solution of problems in obtaining safe, reliable water faster and cheaper than ever before.

Darco Water Technologies Limited (SIN:5CB) is a Singapore-based investment holding company. The Company is organized into three segments: EW Systems, WM Services and trading. EW Systems designs, fabricates, assembles, installs and commission engineered water systems for industrial applications. WM Services is engaged in services and maintains product water and wastewater systems. Trading is engaged in trades and supplies chemicals, electrical controls and related instruments used in water treatment systems.

EAU Technologies, Inc (OTCBB: EAUI ) non-toxic water purification. Supplier of Electrolyzed Water Technology (EOW Technology marketed as Empowered Water(TM)) and other complementary technologies with applications in diverse industries. EAU's water-based and non-toxic (at application concentration, the solutions are non-toxic to humans and live animals) EOW Technology may replace many of the traditional methods now used to clean, disinfect, protect and nourish in large industries such as agriculture and food processing. EAU has solutions for existing bacteria, virus and mold proliferation threats. EAU continues to add innovative and efficacious products that offer a systemic approach to pathogen elimination in food processing plants and related industries, thereby producing safer foods and protecting the environment through "Green Chemistry."

Ebara Corporation (6361: Tokyo) is one of the world's principal manufacturers of fluid transfer machinery, with particularly strong positions in pumps, compressors, fans, and chillers. The Company is also a prominent contractor of environmental engineering systems, focusing on the realization of the "sustainable society." Ebara is a leading supplier of precision machinery to the semiconductor device manufacturing industry. Key products in this sector include chemical mechanical polishing systems, dry vacuum pumps, and other equipment, such as wafer plating systems, that assist the industry in meeting the demands of manufacturing the next generation of semiconductor devices. Ebara is actively engaged in developing and commercializing new energy technologies, including wind power generators, fuel cell cogeneration systems, and photovoltaic power generators.

Ecosphere Technologies, Inc., (OTCBB: ESPH) through its subsidiaries, provides patented and engineered solutions for the defense, homeland security, automotive, and global ship repair markets primarily in the United States. It offers water filtration system, which produces clean drinking water using various natural water sources, as well as heavily polluted water. The company provides an alternative method of removing coatings using an ultra-high pressure robotic water-jetting system, called the M3500 that produces minimal waste. The M3500 uses a titanium and aluminum robot that attaches to the surface of a ship using a patented air gap magnetic array, and is controlled and monitored via a remote operator.

Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (AMEX: FSI) water evaporation reduction technology. Engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of patented water technologies worldwide. It offers specialty chemicals that slow down the evaporation of water. The company’s products include WaterSavr, a water evaporation retardant that reduces evaporation in reservoirs, lakes, aqueducts, irrigation canals, ponds, and slow moving rivers; Heatsavr, a liquid blanket evaporation retardant for the commercial swimming pool and spa markets that reduces humidity and lowers water heating costs; and Ecosavr for residential swimming pools. In addition, the company’s subsidiary, NanoChem Solutions, Inc., specializes in the manufacture of water-soluble products that utilize thermal polyaspartate biopolymers. Its water evaporation control products are used to reduce water loss in arid climates, reduce energy loss from public and private swimming pools, and cause spreading of desired particles across water surfaces. The company’s bio-polymers are utilized in agricultural nutrient uptake, oil industry scale prevention, and as suspension agents in the detergent industry.

GE Osmonics (GEWT) Water & Process Technologies, a unit of GE Infrastructure, is a leading global supplier of water, wastewater and process systems solutions. Water & Process Technologies delivers customer value by improving performance and product quality and by reducing operating costs and extending equipment life in a broad range of products and services. These products and services are used to optimize total water/process system performance, safeguard customer assets from corrosion, fouling and scaling, and protect the environment through water and energy conservation.

Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (Tokyo:6370) english website is a leading manufacturer of water treatment equipment, chemicals and plant equipment.

Mueller Water Products Inc. (NYSE: MWA) Mueller Water Products, LLC engages in the manufacture and sale of water infrastructure and flow control products for use in water distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities, gas distribution systems, and piping systems in North America. It produces and sells hydrants, valves, and related products to the water and gas infrastructure markets. The company also engages in the production, sourcing, and sale of pipe fittings, pipe hangers, and pipe nipples, as well as a range of related products to the piping systems market. Mueller sells its products to municipalities, publicly and privately-owned water and wastewater utilities, gas utilities, and construction contractors. Mueller Water Products, LLC is a subsidiary of Walter Industries, Inc

Pall Corp (NYSE: PLL) through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and marketing of filtration and separation products and systems worldwide. The company operates in five segments: Medical, BioPharmaceuticals, General Industrial, Aerospace, and Microelectronics. The Medical segment sells disposable blood filtration and cardiovascular filtration products primarily to blood centers and hospitals. The BioPharmaceuticals segment sells separation systems and disposable filters primarily to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The General Industrial segment sells filters, coalescers, and separation systems for hydraulic, fuel, and lubrication systems on mechanical equipment, as well as to producers of oil, gas, electricity, chemicals, food and beverages, municipal, and industrial water and paper. The Aerospace segment offers filtration and fluid monitoring equipment to the aerospace industry for use in commercial and military aircraft. The Microelectronics segment offers disposable filtration products to producers of semiconductors, computer terminals, fiber optics, disk drives, displays, and photographic film.

Seprotech (CDNX:SET.V) water treatment systems. Provider of pre-engineered water and wastewater treatment plants to the land development, industrial and military market place, including membrane-based water treatment systems and the ROTORDISK® biological wastewater treatment systems.

TROJAN Technologies (TSE: TUV) water purification: A leader in advanced treatment solutions to safeguard the world's water. At Trojan, we are committed to reducing water stress and maximizing this invaluable resource for current and future generations. Our continued development of innovative, technology-based solutions will provide municipalities, industrial enterprises, and consumers with practical ways to solve their water-related and process problems in an environmentally responsible way.

www.wataireinternational.com/ and www.waterpureinternational.com water generation from the atmosphere!!!

Wataire International, Inc. (OTCBB: WTAR) generates water from air, distributes atmospheric water generators worldwide. It has exclusive worldwide distribution rights to sell Wataire Industries, Inc.’s branded home/office and commercial large volume water generator machines. The company was formerly known as Cimbix Corp. and changed its name to Wataire International, Inc. in October 2006.

WaterPure International (OTCBB:WPUR)water generation and purification. WaterPure International, Inc. markets water production and treatment products in the USA and abroad. The Company's principal line of products includes several models of Atmospheric Water Generators, devices that produce water from the humidity present in the air.

WorldWater and Power Corp. (OTCBB: WWAT) operates as a solar engineering and project management company. It provides solar electric technology and expertise with water and power solutions. The company offers AquaMax system, which is capable of operating pumps and motors up to 600 horse power for irrigation, refrigeration and cooling, and water utilities, consists of an electronic board that reads and translates the output of solar electric direct current from solar panels, converting the flow into alternate current (AC) for delivery to the electric grid, water pumps, and various 3-phase AC motors. Its other products include AquaDrive Controller and AquaMeter water meter. The company’s photovoltaic system generates electricity from the sun.

More fun links:

Wind Energy Stocks, windpower investing info

Geothermal Power Investments, Geothermal company website links

Atmospheric Water Generation Technology links from DMOZ Open Directory project:

* Air to H2O - Western Australia manufacturer of atmospheric water generators. Product information, FAQs, purchase and rental information, and description of the technology.
* Airwater Corporation - Manufacturer of mobile and stationary units. Product profiles, description of the process, and press releases.
* Air2Water LLC - Manufacturer of machines that extract drinking water from the air. Product information, support and contact.
* Aquair - California manufacturer. Offers product descriptions, FAQs, demographics of world consumption, water usage calculator, tips, and company profile.
* AquaMaker - Texas manufacturer of atmospheric water generator units. Company profile, product description, and searchable dealer database.
* Wataire Industries Inc. - Canadian manufacturer of atmospheric water generators. Includes company profile, product descriptions, description of the process, news and press releases.
* Water Master International - Manufactures machinery that generates pure drinking water from the air. Company profile and product information.
* WaterMaker India - Mumbai manufacturer. Offers product comparison chart and descriptions, downloadable brochure, description of technology, and FAQs.
* White Buffalo Nation Inc - A science cooperative with custom industrial air-to-water bottling solutions and pure water manufacturing systems for the home and office.
* Wikipedia web page on Atmospheric Water Generators - Online encyclopedia article about this technology.
* Wired News article Making Water From Thin Air - Audrey Hudson describes the process and profiles the company contracted to provide water to the troops in Iraq using this process. (October 6, 2006)

Alternative Energy Investing, Renewable Power Websites

2008-07-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

Renewable Energy Investing Websites and Green Power Links

Here are some renewable energy investing and clean power fund websites, important resources for researching alternative power technology and renewable energy companies. Resources for clean energy information, green power investment funds and green investments globally:

5N Plus Inc. official english website

American Solar Energy Society

Directory of Solar Power Info Online

DOE Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Power Website

EcoWorld.com - Nature and Technology In Harmony

Energy Conversion Devices page at Yahoo Finance

Environmental Realty and Ecological Property Website

Evergreen Solar company website ESLR

First Solar company information, FSLR

Geothermal.info Geothermal Power website

Green-Energy-News.com

Hawaii Green Homes Land

Home Power Magazine - Official Website

OyNot.com Solar Energy and Batteries

PanTerra Clean Energy Business Parks

PBD - Info on PowerShares Global Clean Energy Fund

Renewable Energy Access Website

Renewable Energy Focus

RenewableEnergyStocks.com Global Stock List

Science Daily Solar Energy Information

SolarBuzz.com Best Solar Energy Website

Solar Energy Investment Blog

Spire Solar company info at Yahoo Finance; SPIR

SunPoweredDreams.com Green Energy Blog

Wind Energy Company websites; Windpower Info online

Wind Energy Investing Links

* Acciona Wind Energy (ANA.MC)
* Babcock and Brown Wind Partners (ASX: BBW BBWPF.PK)
* Boralex Wind Energy info
* Clipper Windpower (CWPR.L) Wind Turbine Manufacturing
* Gamesa Corp (GAM.MC) alternative energy website
* Naikun Windpower company information
* SkyPower Windpower Investment Fund
* Sky Power - Canadian windpower firm
* Suzlon Energy (SUZL) Indian wind power stock
* Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF) Danish windpower company
* Western Wind Energy (WND: TSX.V) publicly-listed stock
* Xantrex Technology (XTX) solar energy inverters

Alternative Energy Investing; Clean Power Stocks

* Green Realtor Website
* Bees Trees Frogs Elephants Nature Website
* Calvert Global Alternative Energy Investment Fund (CGAEX)
* Canadian Hydro (KHD) windpower developments
* Canada Windpower Atlas
* Geothermal Energy Investing Info
* Directory of Top Alternative Energy Websites
* Naikun Wind Energy British Columbia development
* Net Metering information
* Ormat Tech (ORA) geothermal power leading company
* Renewable Power Investing website
* Solar Buzz Renewable Energy Investments
* The Solar Intelligence Blog

Environmental Blogs and Nature Websites

* Geotherma.info Geothermal Energy Stock Investing
* Water Partners International
* Official Website of Greenpeace International
* Nature.com - Animals and Ecology Nature Website
* Nature.ca - Canadian Natural World and Ecology Site
* SolarIntell.com - Guide to Clean Energy Websites and Renewable Power Blogs
* Solar Energy on Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia
* Bees Trees Frogs Elephants Nature and Ecology Blog
* Geotherma.info Geothermal Energy Investing

Biofuel from agricultural waste gets funding boost in Ontario Canada

2008-07-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

Ontario targets $7.5M for biofuel

TheStar.com - Toronto, Canada

Program will fund research focused on using agricultural waste, not food, to generate energy

July 03, 2008
Rob Ferguson
Queen's Park Bureau

The Ontario government is pouring another $7.5 million into research for biofuels that can be made from agricultural waste such as corn husks and manure instead of food crops.

With concerns mounting that biofuels are taking food out of people's mouths and pushing prices higher, the government will today announce $5 million for a new biofuels institute at the University of Western Ontario in London, sources told the Toronto Star.

Another $2.5 million will go toward a demonstration project on a farm outside of London that is turning manure and waste water into biogas, producing enough to power about 800 homes.

"There is a huge demand now for more sustainable biofuels," said a source familiar with the announcement, to be made this morning by Research and Innovation Minister John Wilkinson in London.

"There are researchers and labs all across the province that are already working on this."

One scientist active in the field said the first generation of biofuels, such as ethanol based on the sugar in kernels of corn, has been relatively easy to develop, but the goal is to find a more efficient way of developing fuels from waste, such as corn husks and stalks, which aren't used as food.

"It's a whole lot trickier," said University of Guelph professor Anthony Clarke, noting it is more difficult to isolate the energy in cellulose – the material in stalks and husks that gives the plant its strength – than it is to extract the energy contained within the sugars of the kernel.

He calls that process the "Holy Grail" for researchers in the quest for new fuels to replace fossil-based fuels.

"We need to boost the efficiency and make it cost effective ... a breakthrough could come tomorrow, or it could take another five years," he added.

The biogas project, located at Stanton Farms near the hamlet of Ilderton, is a collaboration between UWO, the University of Guelph and the University of Waterloo.

It uses a biodigester system that turns manure and waste water into a gas that can be used as an energy source.

Aside from working on fuels, the new Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternate Resources at UWO's experimental field station will look at ways to use a process called pyrolysis for turning agricultural waste such as corn husks into organic insecticides, fertilizers and pesticides.

The institute is working with a company from nearby Dorchester called Agri-Therm Ltd., which is a spinoff of UWO's engineering faculty that has developed and patented a pyrolysis machine.

The company is taking it on a demonstration tour for potential customers this summer.

There is a huge potential for biofuels using tonnes and tonnes of plant material that is otherwise going to waste, said Clarke, who is working on a $600,000, three-year study on how to break down cellulose in plants into fuel, funded in part by the Ontario government.

Garbage dumps, he adds, are full of materials containing cellulose that have the potential to generate energy if the right technologies can be developed.

But Clarke said such biofuels are a "stopgap measure" to replace oil, gasoline and natural gas for the time being.

"They're just supplementing our dependence on fossil fuels," he added, noting hydrogen, solar and other renewable fuels remain better long-term options.

Explore the web:

Green Energy Investing, Clean Power Company Websites

Renewable Power Stocks, Windpower Investing Blog

Geothermal Power and Green Energy Company Investing

The Green Realtor Blog - Environmentally-friendly Realty Links

BeesTreesFrogsElephants.com - Nature and Ecology Blog

New Independent Canadian Singer-Songwriter Yuya Joe

The Toronto Sound - New Canadian Modern Alt-Rock Music

Offshore Windpower from Lake Ontario may be best alternative to nuclear and coal

2008-07-06T14:53:00.000-07:00

Wind power a dilemma for Ontario
TheStar.com - Business - Wind power a dilemma for Ontario

COMPARING WIND AND NUCLEAR
So how does offshore wind stack up to nuclear? Moody's Investors Service, commenting in May about the rising cost of atomic power, said the potential cost of a new plant being proposed today is more than $7,000 per kilowatt of capacity. This equates to about $5.3 billion for every 750 megawatts of nuclear capacity added to the grid.

Helimax estimates that the average cost of offshore wind development in Ontario is about $3,800 per kilowatt, or $2.9 billion for 750 megawatts of offshore wind capacity – that is, a project the size of what Trillium has proposed.

Such a comparison, however, is misleading. The lifetime "capacity factor" of Candu nuclear reactors around the world is about 80 per cent, a figure some would call generous in the Ontario context. This means the reactors have produced energy on average that amounts to 80 per cent of potential capacity. Helimax said offshore wind turbines have a capacity factor ranging from 35 to 40 per cent.

So to get the same energy over the course of a year from an offshore wind farm you'd have to build twice as much. This makes offshore wind slightly more expensive than what Moody's is predicting for the cost of nuclear. But is it really? Offshore proponents are quick to point out that with wind power you don't need a lifetime supply of uranium fuel, don't produce toxic waste products, don't have to pay for long-term storage of those waste products, and have lower ongoing staffing and maintenance costs.

They acknowledge offshore wind isn't baseload power like nuclear. Then again, there's no risk of a 1,500-megawatt reactor shutting down for a month or two in the summer because of unscheduled maintenance, like we saw last summer at Pickering generating station.

Timing is also an important consideration. Ontario's first lake-based wind farms, should the province choose to go down the offshore path, could be built and operating by 2013 – a year before the last coal plant is scheduled for shutdown in Ontario. The new nuclear plant at Darlington, as much as the province may need it for baseload power, won't go live until 2018.

–Tyler Hamilton
June 30, 2008
Tyler Hamilton

KINGSTON–The sun was shining, the wind was gentle, and the water calm as a boatload of visitors to Kingston, guests of budding offshore wind developer Trillium Power, embarked last week on a three-hour tour of Lake Ontario.

The cruise was timed to coincide with a global wind power conference at St. Lawrence College.

Trillium's goal was simple: Show people, rather than just tell, how much stronger and consistent the wind is when venturing offshore.

About 30 minutes into the ride the mission was accomplished. What was a relatively smooth cruise became a stomach-churning experience as the wind-battered Catamaran, big enough to hold 180 people, began shifting back and forth in the water. Staff ran to keep bottles of wine from smashing on to the floor, while guests were urged to stay seated.

"The wind here is three times more powerful," said John Kourtoff, chief executive of Trillium, as he compared the potential wind energy from his project to existing onshore wind farms scattered around southern Ontario.

Kourtoff wants to build a 750-megawatt offshore wind farm in these waters, about 15 kilometres off the shore of Prince Edward County. That works out to about 150 wind turbines, seen as specks from the shoreline. And there's potential to double that.

Earlier this month, he announced the creation of Tai Wind, a consortium of North American offshore wind developers who hope, by combining their collective needs, to attract a turbine manufacturer to Ontario.

Already, Germany's Multibrid is seriously considering the invitation and, sources say, has begun high-level discussions between its executives and Ontario government officials.

Multibrid's interest is understandable. A recent report from energy consultancy Helimax concluded there were 64 sites on the Ontario side of the Great Lakes representing up to 34,500 megawatts of offshore wind capacity. This means the Trillium project is just scratching the surface.

Last week, for example, Toronto Hydro said it was renewing its efforts to establish an 80-turbine offshore wind farm near the Scarborough Bluffs.

"Offshore wind will be a driver of growth for the wind industry in the years to come," concluded investment firm Kyoto Planet Asset Management in a research report issued last week.

Also understandable is the government's interest. Embracing offshore wind is more than just adding more renewable energy to the grid, it could form the basis of a new "green" industrial strategy aimed at creating green-collar jobs. Multibrid is potentially the seed for that strategy, as it would need to develop a supply chain to support its Ontario growth plan. More than that, it sees Ontario as a manufacturing hub as it seeks to expand sales across North America and beyond.

It's welcome news at a time when production lines and plants are being shut down at Ontario automotive manufacturers. The idea makes so much sense that some unlikely alliances are being formed. When Trillium announced the Tai Wind consortium earlier this month, representatives from environmental groups WWF Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation shared the stage with the Canadian Auto Workers union, which fully backs the consortium's goals.

Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield told the Star that Ontario is "open for business" when it comes to offshore wind. George Smitherman, now minister of energy and infrastructure, wanted so much to express his support for wind industry growth in Ontario that just days after his appointment he made an unscheduled speech at the Kingston wind conference.

There's a sense of urgency, and a recognition that if Ontario doesn't act on the opportunity, other jurisdictions will.

But a big question remains: How much does offshore wind cost?

The Ontario Power Authority, the government agency that effectively determines which large power projects live or die, says offshore wind costs too much to be considered in its 20-year power system plan. It acknowledges that the technology provides more power than onshore projects, but not enough to justify the higher cost of building offshore wind farms.

"It should be borne in mind that there is currently no experience in Ontario with offshore wind resources, and it may be that additional information may become available over time that would justify further review of this issue," the power authority concluded in a recent amendment to its 20-year plan.

Herein lies a classic chicken-and-egg dilemma. How can the province get a true sense of development costs without forging ahead on at least one project?

We can point to ocean-based offshore projects in Europe and make comparisons, but there are major differences to consider that may work in Ontario's favour. For one, planting a big wind turbine in relatively shallow and calm lake waters would seem to be an advantage in terms of costs. And since we're talking fresh water, there's no risk of salt degrading the mechanical performance of turbines. Also important to consider is the degree to which local manufacturing could reduce turbine and component costs.

It's unclear whether the power authority has taken this into account. Nor has the agency considered larger economic considerations, such as job creation. Technically, it doesn't have that mandate. It exists to get what it perceives to be the cheapest, most reliable power it can for consumers and industry. Power authority executives, mostly former Ontario Hydro engineers who are smart and well intentioned, aren't naturally inclined to include wind, solar and other intermittent sources of renewable energy in their big-picture plans. They reluctantly do so under direction from the government.

The power authority, said one cruise guest, "has its hands full with nuclear" (see "Comparing").

Clearly, the government has some strategic decisions to make. Sooner, it would appear, than later.

Browsing Ideas:
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Alternative Energy Funds, Solar Power Websites

Renewable Energy Investing, Wind Power Company Stocks

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Nature and Ecology Blog

Space-based Solar Energy gets 2nd look ; CNN story

2008-05-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

Forty years ago Peter Glaser proposed harvesting solar power in space and beaming the sun's energy back to earth. Groups such as the Space Power Association and companies such as California's Space Island Group believe the next wave of solar will be extra-terrestrial.

CNN Story on space-based satellites beaming solar power to earth:

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Jyoti is the Hindi word for light. It's something Pranav Mehta has never had to live without. And he is lucky. Near where he lives in Gujarat, one of the most prosperous states in India, thousands of rural villages lack electricity or struggle with an intermittent supply at best.
art.solar.na.jpg

Massive solar satellites would beam power back to ground-based receivers on Earth.
more photos »

"We need to empower these villages, and for empowerment, energy is a must," Mehta said. "Rural India is suffering a lot because of a lack of energy."

By 2030, India's Planning Commission estimates that the country will have to generate at least 700,000 megawatts of additional power to meet the demands of its expanding economy and growing population.

Much of that electricity will come from coal-fired power plants, like the $4 billion so-called ultra mega complex scheduled to be built south of Tunda Wand, a tiny village near the Gulf of Kutch, an inlet of the Arabian Sea on India's west coast. Dozens of other such projects are already or soon will be under way.

Yet Mehta has another solution for India's chronic electricity shortage, one that does not involve power plants on the ground but instead massive sun-gathering satellites in geosynchronous orbits 22,000 miles in the sky.

The satellites would electromagnetically beam gigawatts of solar energy back to ground-based receivers, where it would then be converted to electricity and transferred to power grids. And because in high Earth orbit, satellites are unaffected by the earth's shadow virtually 365 days a year, the floating power plants could provide round-the-clock clean, renewable electricity.
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"This will be kind of a leap frog action instead of just crawling," said Mehta, who is the director of India operations for Space Island Group, a California-based company working to develop solar satellites. "It is a win-win situation."

American scientist Peter Glaser introduced the idea of space solar power in 1968.

NASA and the United States Department of Energy studied the concept throughout the 1970s, concluding that although the technology was feasible, the price of putting it all together and sending it to outer space was not.

Full CNN story on satellite solar power system.

Suggested Browsing:

Wind Power Investing, Renewable Energy Stocks

Geothermal Energy Stocks, Geothermal Power Companies

Ontario advised to consider geothermal energy investments

2008-05-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

It's time we started warming to geothermal

From TheStar.com - Geothermal Energy Business

by Tyler Hamilton

Industry and government in Canada's western parts are poised to spend billions of dollars over the coming decade trying to capture carbon dioxide from oil-sands operations and coal plants. They'll then compress and inject that CO2 underground for what we hope, but don't know for certain, is permanent storage.

The idea is that Canada – to be specific, western Canadian oil companies and power plant operators – will over time become experts in carbon capture and sequestration and a new industry will be born, creating exports to overseas markets like China.

This doesn't do much for Ontario and its struggling economy. We don't have oil-sands projects. Our coal plants are targeted to shut down. And even if we did keep the coal plants, the province's geology limits where huge volumes of liquefied CO2 could be stored.

But what if Ontario could develop the expertise, skills and technologies to develop a form of emission-free power generation that would displace the need for coal, and help move the world away from petroleum and toward grid-supplied electric transportation?

Why doesn't Ontario try to get into the geothermal power game? Not the kind of geothermal that uses heat pumps and provides heating and cooling in our homes; rather, the kind of geothermal where high heat found kilometres under the earth's surface can be used to generate electricity.

Done laughing?

Susan Petty, president of Altarock Energy Inc. in Seattle, says it's not as crazy as some people might think. As a comprehensive study out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology concluded last year, there is useable heat everywhere we walk on this planet and more of it should be tapped. It's all a matter of how deep you drill, and how you go about bringing that heat to the surface using so-called enhanced geothermal systems, or EGS technologies.

Petty was part of the panel that conducted the study. After its release, she formed Altarock to practice what the study preached. "It's serious," says the 25-year veteran of the geothermal industry. "Our goal is to get to where we can do it anywhere, but that's going to require that we bring the cost down."

She looks at a map of Ontario and singles out a few potential spots. "In southern Ontario, near Lake Erie, they show some higher temperatures at depth." There are also locations just west of Ottawa and north of Peterborough, she adds.

In Landau, Germany, the world's first commercial EGS plant began operation last October. It's tapping temperatures of 155 degrees C about 4.5 kilometres below ground. Petty says the Landau project is dealing with depths and temperatures very similar to those found in parts of Ontario.

If that's the case, why aren't we giving this a shot? Lack of awareness, and the general belief it can't be done in Ontario, is one reason.

Policy is another. Germany, for example, has a renewable energy act that pays a fixed, long-term premium for all kinds of clean energy and encourages industry to experiment.

Another barrier is lack of data. "We can't know these things unless we get the data, and the only way to get the data is to drill deep holes," explains Petty. "We've got to get more holes in the ground."

Some data must exist somewhere. Talisman Energy, for example, does lots of natural gas drilling in Lake Erie. Union Gas is building underground natural gas storage in southwestern Ontario. Sarnia and neighbouring Petrolia, the birthplace of North America's commercial oil industry, would also have data on well temperatures. Likewise, anywhere there's deep mining in Ontario there would also be depth and temperature data.

All that should be aggregated by the government and analyzed, and new test holes need to be drilled where gaps in data exist. At the same time, the Ontario Power Authority could easily add geothermal power to its standard offer contract, offering a premium price for the power to anyone who can make it work.

"To do geothermal in Ontario the utility would need to pay something like 17 or 18 cents per kilowatt hour," says Petty. Others with their eye on the market estimate up to 30 cents would do the trick.

It's not outlandish. We're already paying 42 cents per kilowatt-hour for solar electricity, and that's for power that only flows when the sun is shining. Surely, the province could cough up 30 cents under long-term contract to help stimulate a handful of geothermal pilot projects. What's the harm in putting it out there and letting the market decide?

ENHANCED GEOTHERMAL

Conventional geothermal plants, widely found in jurisdictions including Iceland, California, Italy and Indonesia, are low-hanging fruit. They are located in areas where one need not drill more than three kilometres, and where cracks and pores in the rock occur naturally.

This "porosity" is important, because you access the heat by pumping water into deep boreholes. The water spreads through the pores and cracks in the rock, absorbing as much of the heat as possible. It's then pumped back to the surface to create steam that turns a turbine that generates clean electricity 24 hours a day.

Conventional geothermal power is already competitive with the cost of grid electricity in most places, particularly in Europe where prices are generally higher than in North America.

What Altarock hopes to do is improve the economics of what's called "enhanced geothermal system," or EGS — basically geothermal power plants that get heat from greater depths and from non-porous rock. It's more expensive because the further down you drill the costlier it becomes. You also have to artificially fracture the rock under a carefully controlled process to achieve ideal porosity, another added expense and a tricky procedure using current technologies and methods.

"Right now it's probably not economic to drill for geothermal using today's technology any deeper than 4.5 to five kilometres," says Petty, adding that temperatures of 225 C to 250 degrees C are needed. "You can do that in the west. But if you want to go east, you're looking at having to drill 6.5 to seven kilometres to get those temperatures."

These depths are quite common when it comes to oil and gas exploration. Altarock (Altarock Energy Inc., a company formed to develop “enhanced geothermal” generating stations using new technology primarily coming from the oil drilling industry), aims to apply the same skills to geothermal, and come up with a reliable and economical way of fracturing rock so geothermal power could be explored where it was once thought impossible, or too expensive.

Further geothermal energy and renewable power research:

Geothermal Power Stocks Investments

Renewable Power Stocks; Wind Energy Investing

solar energy websites and renewable power blogs

2008-04-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

UPDATED Best Renewable Energy Websites 2008; Links to Green Energy Companies

Here is an alphabetical list of renewable power and clean energy websites that I find can be valuable resources for those researching alternative power technologies and renewable energy stocks. Great resources for green energy company info, clean power mutual funds and green investing worldwide!!!

5N Plus Inc. official english website

American Solar Energy Society

Directory of Solar Power Info Online

DOE Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Power Website

EcoWorld.com - Nature and Technology In Harmony

Energy Conversion Devices page at Yahoo Finance

Environmental Realty and Ecological Property Website

Evergreen Solar company website ESLR

First Solar company information, FSLR

Geothermal.info Geothermal Power website

Green-Energy-News.com

Hawaii Green Homes Land

Home Power Magazine - Official Website

OyNot.com Solar Energy and Batteries

PanTerra Clean Energy Business Parks

PBD - Info on PowerShares Global Clean Energy Fund

Renewable Energy Access Website

Renewable Energy Focus

RenewableEnergyStocks.com Global Stock List

Science Daily Solar Energy Information

SolarBuzz.com Best Solar Energy Website

Solar Energy Investment Blog

Spire Solar company info at Yahoo Finance; SPIR

SunPoweredDreams.com Green Energy Blog

Wind Energy Company websites; Windpower Info online

February alternative energy news, renewable power stocks

2008-03-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

Nevada Geothermal Power is proceeding with Ormat on the Blue Mountain Faulkner 1 Power Plant, see article on geotherma.info entitled Nevada Geo (NGLPF) and Ormat Tech (ORA) in $20 million deal for Blue Mountain geothermal project.

In Geothermal energy news and geothermal company info, Australia has opened up Geopower exploration, and NGP finds geothermal energy drilling success.

Earlier in February Tyler Hamilton over at Clean Break focused on the links between high-purity cadmium telluride supplier 5N Plus and their world-leading customer First Solar in an article that also discusses a potential cadmium shortage.

Vestas Wind Systems AS, the world's largest wind turbine manufacturer, said it has received an order for 32 units of its V90-1.8 MW wind turbine from Spain's Catalana d'Energies Renovables SL.

Sharp Solar aims to raise its annual thin-film solar cell production capacity by completing new plants in Japan and building new facilities abroad. Q-Cells Solar said earlier this month that it had overtaken Sharp as the world’s No. 1 maker of solar cells in terms of volume in 2007.

Spire (SPIR) will provide Dongyang in Korea with a 12 MegaWatt crystalline cell module manufacturing line.

Evergreen Solar and Renewable Energy Corp prepare EverQ Initial Public Offering.

More alternative energy investing info:

Geothermal Power Investing

Wind Energy Stcoks

Spire (SPIR) to provide Dongyang with 12MW crystalline cell module manufacturing line

2008-02-07T19:44:00.000-08:00

Spire to Engineer One of South Korea’s Most Advanced Turnkey Solar Manufacturing Lines

Receives Order for 12MW Crystalline Cell Module Line from Dongyang Creditech

BEDFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spire Corporation (Nasdaq: SPIR), a global solar company providing turnkey solar factories and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules, cells, and wafers worldwide, today announced that it has received a contract from Dongyang Creditech Co. Ltd. located in South Korea to provide a photovoltaic module assembly line.

Spire will provide Dongyang with a semi-automated crystalline cell module manufacturing line capable of producing up to 12 megawatts (MW) of solar modules per year. Spire will supply the process technology and training to operate the factory. The line is designed to be easily doubled at a later date and will integrate Spire’s key assembly, lamination, and testing machines along with intermediate tooling stations.

According to a recent report from the South Korean Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy, South Korea is poised to enter the global solar market with domestically produced modules. Exports of solar-power related equipment have recently begun and have already risen from $45 million in 2006 to more than $180 million in 2007. This is projected to increase to $1.5 billion by 2020 and to more than $6.3 billion by 2030. Government projections also indicate that South Korea will generate some 4 gigawatts (GW) of electricity through solar power by 2020.

“The South Korean solar market is in the early stages of a capacity boom, and we are pleased to partner with Dongyang Creditech to be a part of this dramatic growth,” said Roger G. Little, Chairman and CEO of Spire Corporation. “Domestic solar manufacturing will be critical in meeting this demand. In markets throughout the world, Spire continues to be the preferred supplier to new module manufacturers as they enter the solar business.”

Mr. Dongkyu Choi, Chairman and CEO of Dongyang Creditech said, “We are pleased to have awarded this contract to Spire Corporation. We were attracted to their superior equipment and line design, as well as their engineering and support services. We are confident that we will have a factory that will meet our solar manufacturing needs from start up, through future expansions.”

About Dongyang Creditech Co. Ltd.

Dongyang Creditech was founded in 1973 in South Korea and has been listed under the South Korea stock market, KOSDAQ (Korean Securities Dealers Automated Quotations) since 2002. Dongyang Creditech provides components for liquid crystal display (LCD) and cathode-ray tube (CRT) displays in Asia and Europe and conducts research and development in organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. With the support of Spire Corporation since 2007, Dongyang Creditech has entered the solar energy manufacturing business worldwide.

About Spire Corporation

Spire Corporation is a global solar company providing turnkey production lines and capital equipment to manufacture photovoltaic modules worldwide. Spire Semiconductor develops and manufactures custom gallium arsenide solar cells and other related products for the commercial, biomedical and defense markets. The company’s Spire Biomedical subsidiary is a leader in hemodialysis catheters and implantable device processing service.

Evergreen Solar and REC prep EverQ for Initial Public Offering

2008-02-07T09:03:00.000-08:00

Solar Manufacturer EverQ Expands and Prepares for IPO

from: SustainableBusiness.com News

Q-Cells AG (QCE; ISIN DE0005558662) and its partners in the Joint Venture EverQ GmbH--Evergreen Solar, Inc. and REC Renewable Energy Corporation ASA--have approved significant expansion plans for EverQ and agreed to start preparations for an IPO of EverQ immediately.

EverQ will build a third integrated wafer, cell and module production facility at its company site in Bitterfeld-Wolfen (Germany), according to a release. The new EverQ facility will increase EverQ's production capacity from 100 MWp to 180 MWp the company says.. The partners will invest nearly EUR 150 million in the new EverQ III facility, which is expected to start production in the first quarter of 2009.

The final timing of the IPO is still to be decided. As part of the preparations for the IPO, the management and organization of EverQ will be significantly strengthened to enable the transformation of EverQ into an independent company with its own branding, according to a release. The sales and marketing organization will be expanded as modules will be distributed under the new brand in the future.

To support the further growth ambitions of EverQ, REC says it has offered an additional supply agreement for polysilicon which should enable EverQ to increase its production capacity to 600 MWp by the year 2012. The supply agreement totals approximately 4,000 MT delivered at market terms. Annual shipments under the new agreement will peak at slightly more than 700 MT and will run from 2010 until 2015, according to the announcement.

To secure the independent development, EverQ has a proprietary right to the current technology base of Evergreen and will have a right to license all new material technology development by Evergreen on the String Ribbon(TM) platform over the 5 years following the IPO, the companies said. EverQ says it will build a R&D team to complement this access to new technology with own improvements.

More suggested browsing:

SolarIntell.com

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Geotherma.info

Renewable Energy Technology proposed as driver for Texas USA economic engine

2008-02-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

article from: http://chimera-gaia.blogspot.com

Don't let a recession waste valuable labor

by Chimera

Recession can also create opportunities for positive change.

Much of the technology used by aerospace industries can translate well to the production of equipment for generating renewable energy. Machines used to produce thrust can, with modifications, turn around and receive thrust [from wind or tides] to generate power. Lockheed Martin Corporation will reduce its Fort Worth, Texas workforce by 650 jobs this year. The Austin American-Statesman and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that most of the job losses will involve engineers working on a new fighter jet. Wouldn’t it make sense to put those smart people to work making our economy more resilient? Until our capitalist economic system properly values labor, we will continue wasting time, money, energy, and lives. Our national security hangs in the balance.

If Congress wants to stimulate the economy, create jobs, reduce carbon emissions, reduce fossil fuel consumption, and reduce the trade deficit, they might consider finding ways to reassign those engineers and a few thousand assembly line workers to the tasks of building wind turbines, tidal turbines, solar power plants, and power storage systems.

Wind turbines, popping up in Texas faster than practically anywhere else, as far as I know, mostly come from factories in Europe, Japan, and China. A backlog of orders for wind turbines slows the renewable energy transformation that the Legislature says it wants. I have seen Danish wind turbines (Vestas Wind Systems) on double-long flatbed trailers behind trucks traveling west from Houston on Interstate 10. Spain produces a fair number as well (Gamesa). General Electric produces wind turbines, but not enough for the demand and apparently not in Texas.

Austin Energy and friends tried some years ago to attract a wind turbine factory to Texas. The proposal failed because Austin, as a municipal government, could not guarantee in advance that it would buy the output. Restrictions on bidding and not knowing the eventual cost of the product killed the deal.

Texas does not lack the engineering or manufacturing expertise to build renewable power systems – like wind and tidal turbines. Texas companies build all manner of technologically sophisticated equipment. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company, and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation produce helicopters. Thrustmaster of Texas manufactures commercial marine propulsion equipment. Lightning Aircraft designs, develops and manufactures engines and parts for the UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) industry. Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corporation manufactures jets. American Legend Aircraft and Mooney build airplanes. Superior Air Parts, a subsidiary of Thielert AG, manufactures aircraft engine replacement parts. Vought Aircraft Industries designs and manufactures major airframe structures. Fairchild Dornier engineers and manufactures jet aircraft. Fiberspar Corporation's spoolable fiber-reinforced pipe business designs and manufactures high-performance fiber-reinforced composite tubing used for windsurfing masts as well as oil and gas production equipment. Fletch Air, Inc. manufactures and distributes parts for several aircraft manufacturers. Our existing aerospace industries provide us a formidable base for future industries.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities exist in Texas to build renewable power systems. We can reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and our carbon emissions. Who will pull together these mind-boggling resources and make it happen? Ask around.

More suggested browsing:

Eco-friendly Real Estate

Wind Power Investing Website

Invest in Geothermal Energy Companies

NewEnergyFinance.com defines Renewable Power and Clean Energy Sectors

2008-02-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

What is New Energy?

At New Energy Finance we define the following 16 sectors as making up the clean energy industry:

Renewable Energy & Bioenergy Sectors

* 1. Biofuels

Liquid transportation fuels including biodiesel and bioethanol. These can be derived from a range of biomass sources, including sugar cane, rape seed (canola), soybean oil or cellulose. Our database excludes producers of base biomass, but includes suppliers of everything from the processing technologies and equipment, through the logistics of distribution, to manufacturers of energy systems which are specially adapted for the use of biofuels and products, and the services on which they depend.

* 2. Biomass, solid waste and biogas

Production and consumption of solid and gaseous fuels derived from biomass. Solid biomass for the energy sector can include a number of specially-grown crops, such as elephant grass or coppiced willow, but it can also consist of crop residues such as straw. We include in this sector processors of other waste matter for energy generation, such as sewage waste, chemical by-products and biogas produced from municipal waste, as their exploitation often involves the same technologies as grown-for-purpose biomass. Increasingly we are seeing developers, generators and utilities enter this sector.

* 3. Geothermal

Geothermal power has long played a part in the energy mix of countries with obvious geothermal resources, such as Iceland and Japan. Recent advances in two areas, however, mean that geothermal energy can play an increasing role worldwide: new drilling techniques allow users to tap into resources that had been too deep to access; and new ways of extracting useful power from lower temperature geothermal fields allow productive use of resources that could not have been used economically in the past.

* 4. Mini-Hydro (<50MW)

There may seem little new about hydroelectric power. Indeed at New Energy Finance we don't cover large-scale hydroelectric power projects. However, there are interesting developments in small-scale and low-head hydro power, and even very small scale hydro solutions. Hydro power is undergoing a renaissance and has a lot to contribute to the deployment of renewable energy globally.

* 5. Marine

The marine sector covers all technologies relating to extraction of energy from the sea. Possibilities include waves and tide, either via tidal barrages or tidal flow generators. Note that exploitation of marine biomass would be categorised in biomass, rather than in this sector.

* 6. Solar

The Solar sector covers all technologies that capture energy directly from the sun, either using a photo-voltaic (PV) material, or via a passive technology such as a concentrator or stirling engine. The solar energy sector is already substantial - cost reductions through new technologies or through increased manufacturing scale should see it breaking into new areas of energy demand over the coming decades.

* 7. Wind

Wind is the renewable technology that has had the biggest impact on our energy usage patterns over the past decade. The next decade will see continued activity, particularly in developing countries and offshore. The Wind Energy Sector includes components and sub-assemblies for wind turbines as well as manufacturers of turbines themselves. A big part of this sector, however, consists of the various developers, generators, utilities and engineering firms that have sprung up to exploit opportunities to build wind farms around the world.

Power Architecture Sectors

* 8. Generation Efficiency

This sector covers technologies that result in a step-change improvement in the generating efficiency or reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of existing power generation equipment. Important technologies in this sector include breakthroughs in motor or generator design, as well as software, sensor and control technologies which result in step-change improvement. This sector includes breakthrough CHP technologies (i.e. that are more than just relocating traditional generating equipment closer to heat users).

* 9. Smart Distribution

As sources of power supply become more variable (many renewable sources are intermittent), and the importance of reducing grid losses becomes higher with higher power costs, so the significance of improving power distribution will grow. This sector includes a number of technologies that target such improvement, from the forecasting of renewable resource availability, through software to balance supply and demand or find grid faults, to technology that allows peak shifting or intelligent meter reading.

* 10. Power storage

Many renewable energy and emerging energy technologies are either intermittent, or have response curves that are unable to follow the dynamic demands that will be put on them when deployed. Batteries and other energy storage technologies therefore become key enablers for any shift to these technologies. We call the sector power storage in order to underline the fact that hydrogen storage is in the Hydrogen sector, even though we include here mechanical technologies like flywheels that are straight potential replacements for batteries.

* 11. Energy Efficiency and Demand Reduction

Power efficiency and demand reduction approaches may not strictly be part of the renewable energy and energy technology industry, but they are highly relevant to investors in the space. Shifts in our sources of energy over the coming 20 years must be accompanied by wholesale improvement in our energy efficiency. This sector covers a range of technologies that reduce the use of energy in retail and commercial buildings, including advanced insulation, building components and intelligent systems for managing power consumption. It also includes technologies focused on reducing the use of energy in a wide variety of industrial processes.

* 12. Carbon Capture and Sequestration

Given the very substantial energy appetites of China, India and the US, and the substantial amounts of coal and natural gas available in those countries, it is highly unlikely that they will move rapidly enough to clean and renewable energy sources. One type of technology may allow us to continue using these fuels without adding to the emissions of CO2. Carbon capture and sequestration technologies involve the separation of CO2 from the exhaust stream from the burning of fossil fuels, and its long-term storage, either in depleted oil and gas fields, under the ocean or elsewhere.

Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Sectors

* 13. Hydrogen

The hydrogen sector covers everything from the production and storage of hydrogen, through its distribution and the various technologies and applications in which it can be used. Hydrogen is not, of course, a renewable fuel source - it is only a carrier of energy, in the same way electricity is not a source but a carrier of power. But if produced renewably hydrogen looks like a promising candidate to replace fossil fuels in transport as these are depleted, and governments and corporations are investing accordingly.

* 14. Fuel Cells

Many observers believe that fuel cells will lie at the heart of any post-fossil energy architecture. Although they have been around for 150 years and their performance is not in doubt, their high manufacturing costs and low reliability mean that they have yet to capture any mass markets. A large number of companies and research initiatives are hoping to change that over the coming decade. We draw a distinction between the hydrogen industry and the fuel cell sector: fuel cells can burn a variety of hydrocarbon fuels, and hydrogen can be used by other systems, such as internal combustion engines. There is, however, substantial crossover between the two sectors

Other Sectors

* 15. Carbon Markets

The ratification of the Kyoto Protocol gave a boost to the European Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS). Elsewhere in the world other carbon markets are emerging, whether as a result of regulation or for voluntary trading. The carbon market is not part of the clean energy industry, but will significantly influence its development. The main companies participating in the energy-relevant aspects of the carbon market are logged in this sector.

* 16. Services & Support

The rapid growth of the clean energy industry will require the development of a complete sector of service companies dedicated to serving the needs of technology and equipment suppliers, owners of renewable energy and biofuels assets, and so on. In this sector we put providers of information and research (such as ourselves), specialised clean energy financial services companies, consultants and the like.

In addition to these 16 sectors, which make up the clean energy industry itself, the New Energy Finance Desktop includes details of other active and important organisations of two types: the general financial services industry, and the Governments, NGOs and policy-makers.

There is, of course, a futher sector which could contribute very significantly to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions: nuclear power. We don't take an absolutist anti-nuclear position - in fact we believe that nuclear power deserves a place in the energy mix of most developed countries - but we don't consider nuclear power to fall within our remit. Whatever a country's position on nuclear power, the need to implement renewable energy and new technologies throughout the remainder of its energy architecture remains as urgent. And unlike increasing the use of renewable energy sources, reliance on nuclear power will not improve the world's energy security.

More suggested research:

Geotherma.Info Geothermal Energy Companies

WindIntell.com Windpower Stocks Investing

Southwestern Energy Consortium incl. XEL, UNS, PNW has RFP for 250 megawatt solar energy project in USA

2008-02-07T08:38:00.001-08:00

A multi-state consortium of southwestern energy service providers is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a utility-scale concentrating solar power plant. The plant would be owned by a third-party with consortium members each signing long-term purchase power agreements.

The size, design and location of the new solar project will be determined by the RFP submissions. It is expected to produce 250 megawatts and be located in either Arizona or Nevada. When completed, it would be the largest solar power plant in either state. A concentrating solar plant uses the sun to heat a liquid that can directly or indirectly drive a turbine.

The Southwest Energy Service Provider's Consortium for Solar Development (aka Joint Development Group) was formed with the goals of reducing solar energy costs and increasing efficiency through economies of scale. Members of the group include Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, Southern California Public Power Authority, Tucson Electric Power and Xcel Energy.

A copy of the RFP, which will be due March 19, 2008, is available at www.aps.com/rfp. A bidders' teleconference will take place at 10 a.m. on January 17, 2008. The call-in number will be posted with the RFP at the Web site.

More info at: Southwest Energy Consortium issues RFP for solar energy project

Please view also:

The Solar Intelligence Blog

Bees Trees Frogs Elephants Ecology Blog

Investing in Wind Power

Invest in Geothermal Energy

Canadian Solar (CSIQ) may be the best-positioned Solar Stock

2008-02-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

by Jack Yetiv, SeekingAlpha.com

In a recent article, I compared Canadian Solar (CSIQ) to First Solar (FSLR), Sunpower (SPWR) and Suntech Power (STP). I concluded that among these solars, CSIQ offers a far better risk-reward ratio than the other three stocks. In response to the article, a couple of posters asked if I would expand my comparison to other solar stocks, and I said I would. Here is the outcome of that analysis.

Before presenting the comparison, I want to discuss my assumptions, biases and methodology:

1) My biggest “bias” is that all things being equal, a lower PE (or, more accurately, PEG) among comparable companies wins this contest. Obviously, since things are not “all equal,” some adjustments must be made, but nevertheless, PEG is the primary driver of this comparison. If that is not a belief that you hold, this article won’t have much meaning to you.

2) This comparison is based more on facts that on projections, with one exception. I have calculated PEs against projected 2008 earnings obtained from either company guidance or the midpoint of analyst estimates. This was essential because in the solar space, a fast-growing-company’s trailing PE is not a meaningful number. I further thought it was reasonable to use forward (2008) PE because we are already into 2008, and therefore, visibility should be reasonable, at least for most of this year. Next, somewhat lowering the inherent error in using projections is the fact that I took the midpoint of analysts’ estimates, which should increase the reliability of the estimate. Next, even if analysts’ estimates turn out to be overoptimistic, that error is likely to impact all these companies fairly similarly, thus not altering the conclusion reached here. Finally, even a 20% change in the earnings estimate does not really alter the conclusion here, further reinforcing this analysis.

3) In my analysis, I put very little—if any—value in projections for 2009, or, perish the thought, 2010 or beyond. To me, given the range of possibilities on both macroeconomic (What will we have? Deep recession? Mild one? Soft landing? Business as usual?) and microeconomic (Will there be an oversupply of solar panels in 2009? Will global incentives increase, stay level or decrease?) fronts, NOBODY can reliably predict what the earnings will be for these companies in the 2009 calendar year (which basically ends two years from now).

It is enough of a stretch to guess where earnings will be in the fourth quarter of this year. Indeed, to highlight the unreliability of 2009 “estimates” (read “speculative guesses,”) one only needs look at the range of estimates for 2008 for some of these companies. For example, one analyst thinks Trina Solar (TSL) will earn $1.65 in 2008, while another believes TSL will earn $3.49 — more than double the lower value. Other companies also have a large spread, although I don’t think any company’s range of analyst estimates is as wide as TSL’s.

4) I have not included any information regarding analyst upgrades, downgrades, target prices, or recommendations, for several reasons. First, this is meant to be an objective analysis—and as can be seen from the spread in analyst estimates, the amount of subjectivity in analyst opinions is quite large. Second, I have for months disagreed with most analyst upgrades of several of the sexy names in the solar space, pushing their valuations—before 2007 was even over—to 50X 2009 EPS (I am, of course, thinking of FSLR, but a few other companies have been similarly hyped, without just cause, in my opinion—see my other article comparing CSIQ to these companies). To me, using 50X multipliers against EPS two years down the line is witchcraft, not financial analysis. Third, analysts’ opinions tend to be even worse at inflection points in the economy—and regardless of whether one believes we’re in a bear market or not, I think everyone agrees we are at an inflection point. Therefore, I provide these numbers as a springboard for further discussion and analysis by visitors to this site.

5) This is not meant to be a commentary on the solar space in general because that would take an article all by itself. Briefly, though, I believe that solar will do very well going forward, and that selected companies in this space will do even better. I believe that demand for PV panels will exceed supply over the next several years because I believe grid parity will be reached in stages and that the initial stages will come sooner than most people think and generate demand that is probably not yet appreciated. (I do believe ASPs will come down, but margin compression will not be severe because feedstock costs will drop and because the fabs will become more efficient.) In addition, I personally believe that the true cost of conventional power (“dirty electricity,” I like to call it) will start being recognized more and more, which will give renewable technologies (and especially solar) a continuing financial boost. Finally, I also believe that in the next year or two, total incentives around the world will increase collectively, and that incentives in the US will be renewed, if not expanded. Finally, I believe that within 5 years, incentives will largely be unnecessary because many locales will have already reached grid parity by then, which will, of course, constitute its own incentive.However, this article concludes that some of the companies in the solar space are such compelling values that even if they were not in a fast-growing space (that I believe solar will be), they would still constitute a bargain.

Having reviewed my assumptions, I want to present the spreadsheet I created to compare 11 solar companies. Due to space limitations, I only show a few columns of information.

The first column shows market cap, ranging from $200 million for AKNS to $16.5 billion for WFR. The second column has two pieces of information—the first number shows 2007 sales followed by earnings in 2007 (or, more accurately, estimated sales and earnings since the 4th quarter hasn’t yet been reported by most companies). The third and fourth columns show 2008 estimated sales and earnings, respectively. The fifth column shows closing price on 1-25-08, and the 6th and 7th columns calculate forward P/E and forward P/S (1-25 price against 2008 numbers). Although I initially input these companies in random order, I then sorted them in order of PE.

Although I present AKNS on this spreadsheet because people have asked me to analyze it, this company does not belong in a comparison of companies based on PE because it is not expected to have any earnings in 2008. This is not meant to be a negative comment against AKNS—since I have not carefully evaluated the company nor its prospects, I cannot really comment on it. I would say, however, that because it isn’t expected to have earnings this year, and because even its sales are quite small (about $35 million in 2007), it is a much more speculative play than the top-rated companies on this spreadsheet.

As is obvious from this spreadsheet, Canadian Solar (CSIQ) stands alone, in several respects.

See Spreadsheet and full article at: Financial Analysis of Solar Energy Stocks

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Energy Conversion Devices (ENER) soars on Q2 2008 results

2008-02-07T08:24:00.000-08:00

Energy Conversion Devices; ENER Announces Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results

Consolidated Revenues Increase 20 Percent on Strong UNI-SOLAR(R) Sales- Solar Production Increases Nearly 50 Percent- Company Reaffirms Sustainable Profitability in Fiscal Q4

February 07, 2008

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD) , the leading global manufacturer of solar thin-film laminate products, today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2008, ended December 31, 2007.

Revenues in the second quarter of fiscal 2008 were $56.4 million, up 20 percent from first quarter revenues of $47.0 million and up 146 percent from $22.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2007. Revenues from the company's solar business were $51.7 million, or 92 percent of total revenues. Second quarter solar revenues represented a 23 percent sequential increase and a 169 percent increase over the prior-year quarter. Gross margins in the solar business were 19.2 percent.

ECD reported a net loss for the quarter of $5.4 million, or $0.14 per share, compared to a net loss of $7.6 million, or $0.19 per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2008, and a net loss of $2.9 million, or $0.07 per share, in the year-ago period. Second quarter results included $2.5 million, or $0.06 per share, of restructuring charges principally for severance and other costs associated with corporate staff reductions and management transition. Results in the quarter were also impacted by approximately $2.3 million, or $0.06 per share, of preproduction costs.

For the first six months of fiscal 2008, total revenues were $103.5 million compared with $50.1 million for the first six months of fiscal 2007, an increase of 106 percent. Revenues from the solar business totaled $93.6 million in the first six months of fiscal 2008, a 118 percent increase compared with $43.0 million last year.

For the six-month period, the company reported a net loss of $13.0 million, or $0.33 per share, compared with the previous year's net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.13 per share. Restructuring costs for the first six months of fiscal 2008 amounted to $5.1 million, or $0.13 per share. Preproduction costs for the period were $4.8 million, or $0.12 per share.

Mark Morelli, ECD's president and CEO, commented, "We are excited with the progress we are making in growing revenues and reinventing the company around operational excellence. During the quarter, our production of thin-film solar laminates expanded by 50 percent over the first quarter, and tripled over last year's second quarter. At the same time, our sales pipeline continues to run ahead of production capacity as new and repeat customers in key markets around the world have come to recognize the significant advantages and attractive return on investment of our UNI-SOLAR laminates. As a result, we remain confident that we will reach sustainable profitability by the fiscal fourth quarter."

The company's manufacturing ramp continues on schedule, and United Solar Ovonic produced 15.4 MW in the quarter and 25.8 MW for the first half of the fiscal year. No polysilicon is required for the manufacturing of UNI-SOLAR laminates; therefore, production is not affected by polysilicon supply. Nameplate capacity currently stands at 118 MW.

Sanjeev Kumar, ECD's CFO, said, "United Solar's gross margin of 19.2 percent for the quarter exceeded our forecast of 15 to 16 percent due to improved production ramp and operational efficiencies. We continue to see excellent top-line momentum going forward, which will begin to appear below the line in the coming quarters as we complete our restructuring and management transition."

"As a result of our significant cost reductions in R&D, Ovonic Materials has reached breakeven, and we expect it to remain so going forward. Second quarter, consolidated SG&A costs increased about $6 million from the second quarter last year as a result of investments we are making in the right staff and expertise to grow our solar business. The key takeaway is that these costs are increasing at a much slower rate than our overall sales and productivity. These line items now constitute about 23% of revenues and will continue to decline as a percentage of revenues over time as we successfully scale our operations," Kumar added.

Key Developments

-- A multiple-year supply agreement to sell up to 21.15 MW of UNI-SOLAR
laminates to Enfinity Management, one of Europe's largest investors in
solar PV installations. Enfinity will use the UNI-SOLAR products for
rooftop installations in Europe.
-- An agreement with SunEdison, North America's largest solar energy
service provider, to provide up to 17 MW of UNI-SOLAR laminates for use
on large-scale rooftop installations on industrial and commercial
buildings, principally in the US.
-- The hiring of key senior management, including Marcelino Susas, Vice
President, Strategic Marketing; Corby Whitaker, Vice President, Global
Sales; Joseph Conroy, Vice President, Operations; and Tom Schultz, Vice
President, Human Resources - United Solar Ovonic Operations.
-- The signing of several sales agreements in South Korea, one of the
world's fastest growing solar markets, including a take-or-pay
commitment from AirTec for 25 MW in calendar 2008 and 2009.
-- The completion of a $55 million credit facility. In addition, the
company had approximately $155 million in cash and cash equivalents at
the end of the quarter.

Narrowing Full-Year Revenue Guidance; Reiterating Sustainable Profitability in Fiscal Q4

The company narrowed its prior revenue guidance provided at the end of the fiscal first quarter. Fiscal year 2008 consolidated revenues are now expected to be $235 to $245 million versus prior guidance of $220 to $245 million. Fiscal year United Solar product sales are expected to be $215 to $225 million versus prior guidance of $205 to $225 million. Anticipated full-year preproduction costs are in the range of $8 to $9 million. Restructuring costs for fiscal year 2008 are expected to be $7.0 to $8.0 million versus prior guidance of $3 to $5 million due to additional staff reductions and other cost-saving initiatives. The company is reiterating its expectation that it will reach sustainable profitability in the fiscal fourth quarter.

For the fiscal third quarter ending March 31, 2008, total consolidated revenues are expected to be between $65 to $70 million, of which solar product sales are expected to be $60 to $65 million. Gross margins on solar product sales for the fiscal third quarter are expected to be approximately 21 to 23 percent, reflecting further improvement in operational performance and the ramp up of the company's first Greenville manufacturing facility. Restructuring costs for the third quarter are expected to be in the range of $2.0 to $3.0 million. The company anticipates preproduction costs of approximately $1.5 to $2.5 million in the quarter.

Additionally, the company is increasing its guidance on United Solar gross margins for the fiscal fourth quarter to approximately 23 to 25 percent.

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The Solar Intelligence Blog

January Roundup, Alternative Energy Investing; Solar, Windpower, Geothermal

2008-02-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

January 2008 was a wild ride for solar power stocks and other alternative energy investments, with many reaching alltime highs early in the month, only to fall 25% to 50% or more to hit 52 week lows and crash through support levels and trendlines. A lot of the air has been taken out of the sector these past few weeks, making it an excellent time to begin a dollar cost averaging program into a blend of managed and index alternative energy investment funs.

* Are Renewable Energy Stocks a buy?

* Green technology investing up 44% in 2007

* Xantrex (XTX:T) lands major wind energy contract

* Australia opens up Geothermal energy exploration

* Geothermal Power potential in Australia

* US and Canadian Geothermal Energy website and blog links

* UK Geothermal Energy Companies Website Links

* Scientific American article on future of solar energy

* Top Renewable Energy Websites and Blogs

* WindPower 2008 conference in Houston TX June 1st to 4th

* Global Windpower links, wind energy company info

* Best of 2007 Alternative Energy News

Solar Power Stocks & Alternative Energy News; SPWR, VWSYF, GCTAF

2008-01-31T19:37:00.001-08:00

SPWR benefited from the increasing popularity of thin film solar to ride the success of its EverQ division and surprise the street by announcing that Sunpower turned a profit in the 4th quarter.

Alternative energy sector expert Elliott Gue of TheStockAdvsiors.com looks at wind power:

"The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that wind power will grow by more than 7%, encouraged by generous government subsidies. Compare that to just 1.5% annualized projected growth in total electricity demand.

"The world's largest wind turbine producer, Vestas Wind Systems (OTC: VWSYF), fell on hard times back in 2005. It priced some of its turbines too aggressively and saw a surge in warranty claims because of defective components.

"But the stock appears back on track. Warranty provisions are down to 5% of revenues. Profit margins surged 4 percentage points year-over-year because of more rational turbine pricing. Vestas' current backlog stands at EUR4.1 billion (US $6.03 billion), up more than 30% year-over-year.

"Spain's Gamesa (OTC: GCTAF) is second only to Vestas in the wind-turbine market. The company recently opened new factories in China and the US, expanding its manufacturing capacity to 3,000 megawatts annually, up 36% from the end of 2006.

"The firm also designs and constructs entire wind farm projects on a turnkey basis. It also offers ongoing maintenance and operation service contracts. Buy Gamesa under US $45.

"Carbon fiber is a strong yet light material used to manufacture turbine blades. Fiber is in short supply amid surging demand in two key markets: advanced aerospace and wind power. Tight supplies mean rising prices for the key manufacturers of fiber, including Advantage Portfolio recommendation Hexcel Corp. (NYSE: HXL) and Zoltek Industries (NSDQ: ZOLT)."

SolarBuzz.com reports Spanish subsidiary of Phoenix Solar AG last week signed contracts for the construction of photovoltaic power plants in Spain that will have a peak output of more than 9 megawatts (MW). This corresponds to sales of over EUR 40 million.

RenewableEnergyWeekly.com has published an analysis called The State of Green Business in 2008, citing research reported on GreenBiz.com.

Their conclusion: Environmental performance overall in the U.S. is gradually advancing, but often not at the pace needed to offset economic growth or avoid the worst effects of climate change.

"The state of green business is improving, slowly but surely, as companies both large and small learn the value of integrating environmental thinking into their operations in ways that align with core business strategy and bottom-line goals," said Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz.com. "Green business has shifted from a movement to a market. But there is much, much more to do."

Solar Energy Sector Stocks News and Views; REC, SPWR

2008-01-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

Many solar stocks have traded 25%to 50% below their 52 week highs in recent days, and some would argue these represent bargains in renewable energy stock sector.

Bloomberg's David Wilson shares his views the decline in alternative energy stocks:

"Makers of solar-power equipment have followed the lead of ethanol producers, another segment of the alternative-energy industry, by going through a boom-and-bust cycle in stock markets worldwide.

The World Solar Energy Index, consisting of 10 of the industry's biggest members, has declined 37 percent this year after soaring almost 21-fold in the last four years. Renewable Energy Corp., the worst performer among the index's five most- heavily weighed components, has tumbled 48 percent.

Rising costs have contributed to the retreat. Renewable Energy, based in Hovik, Norway, said this month that research and development spending will climb fourfold through 2010. The company also wants to build three new solar-cell factories and add a plant for making polysilicon, a type of purified silicon used in cells.

The index peaked in December, about 18 months after a surge in ethanol makers ended. Pacific Ethanol Inc., for one, has lost 87 percent since setting an all-time high in May 2006."

MSN Moneycentral reports Piper Jaffray has upgraded Sunpower Corp (SPWR) to Buy from Neutral and raised their target to $105 from $94 on future earnings strength, saying shares of SPWR have lost most of its valuation premium relative to competitors. The firm says:

1) the ASP outlook is clearly better than they had anticipated a year ago

2) their thesis for SPWR poly supply risks have played out as anticipated with two disappointing quarters of module supply constraint. The firm says they have evidence that M. Setek is ramping on track and schedule for a substantial ramp after an upcoming plant closure for government inspection.

Online Renewable Energy Resources:

The International Energy Agency has a program for renewable power testing called the Solar Heating and Cooling Programme. It was established in 1977, as one of the first programmes of the International Energy Agency. The Programme�s work is unique in that it is accomplished through the international collaborative effort of experts from Member countries and the European Commission.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) is a great resource for alternative energy planning in the USA. DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Most solar power stocks defining trading ranges

2008-01-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

Solar Energy Sector - Trading as of January 24, 2008

Akeena Solar Inc. (Market, News ) closed at $8.13, up $1.08 on the day and showed further gains in after market trading.

Evergreen Solar Inc (Market, News) shares were up only $ 0.19 on the day but showed a 5.2% gain in after market trading.

First Solar, Inc. (Market, News), gave investors a $6.72 upside during market hours, followed by another 2.65% gain after hours.

LDK Solar ADR (Market, News) was up 2.64 (7.55%) as of the market close.

Canadian Solar Inc. (Market, News) posted gains of $1.64, up 9.36%.

SunPower Corporation (Market, News ) broke the daily trend with the stock down $5.04 (6.79%) during market trading, but showing gains after hours. The stock was under pressure on the news of a first-quarter adjusted profit outlook.

Are Renewable Energy Stocks offering a buying opportunity?

2008-01-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

Some of the best names in the world have been hit hard by the recent selloff, so investors who have been on the sidelines during the runup may want to consider initiating a dollar-cost averaging program to begin buying in over the next 3 to 12 months.

Renewable Power Stocks down 50% from 52-week highs as of 24JAN08: SPWR, SOLF, FSLR, REC, WFR

SPWR: SunPower (NASDAQ:SPWR) said revenue tripled to $224 million from $75 million in the year-ago quarter.

Alternative Energy companies down 25% from 52-week highs as of 24JAN08: ORA, QCLSF, SUZL, STP

There will be some big winners among these names ...

Geen technology investing up 44% to pass $5 billion in 2007

2008-01-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

article from: http://www.reuters.com

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Investments in environmentally friendly "clean-tech" companies rose 44 percent to more than $5 billion last year as soaring oil prices, climate change concerns and government incentives boosted interest in renewable energy, an industry group said.

The Cleantech Group LLC, whose members include venture capital firms, investment banks, and other investors, on Thursday said 2007 venture investment in the alternative energy market in North America and Europe was $5.18 billion, compared with $3.6 billion the previous year.

The 2006 rise was also 44 percent.

The number of financing deals in the industry increased 15 percent last year to 268, and the average deal size rose 20 percent to $14.7 million, Cleantech said.

Energy generation companies were the biggest recipients, racking up financing of $2.75 billion, the group said. Solar, wind and biofuels were among the alternative generation industries to receive venture funding, according to John Balbach, a managing partner at the Cleantech Group.

"This market is beginning to pick up speed as the numbers of technologies and solutions are increasing," Balbach said.

Second on the list were energy storage companies with $471 million in funding, followed by transportation firms with $445 million.

"More new car companies were financed in the last 12 months than probably in the last 50 or 60 years," Balbach said, calling the growth of investments in electric and other "green" vehicles "a significant trend."

Energy efficiency companies were fourth on the list with total financing of $356 million, and recycling & waste companies were number five with $291 million, Cleantech said.

Investment in the industry is expected to grow at a 20 percent to 30 percent clip annually, Balbach said, adding that increasing amounts of funding would be directed into companies in China and India.

Water companies and those focused on "green" buildings are also major growth opportunities, Balbach added.

(Reporting by Nichola Groom, editing by Leslie Gevirtz)

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Leading Inverter firm Xantrex (XTX:T) in major windpower deal

2008-01-16T19:37:00.000-08:00

article from: http://www.canada.com

Xantrex lands a deal to supply the wind

Bruce Constantineau
Vancouver Sun

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Burnaby-based Xantrex Technology Inc. has just secured a $25-million contract to supply wind power converters to an unnamed "leading North American wind turbine manufacturer."

It's a significant deal that represents about 10 per cent of the power electronics firm's projected 2008 revenues but it can't officially name the buyer.

"By agreement, we cannot disclose the purchaser," Xantrex chairman Mossadiq Umedaly said in an interview.

But the buyer is likely California-based Clipper Windpower Technology, because the contract announcement Tuesday indicates it's an extension of a previous $12-million deal to supply wind converters to a turbine manufacturer.

In November 2005, Xantrex announced a $12-million contract to supply Clipper Windpower with the converters.

Xantrex wind converters control and convert variable power from wind-turbine generators into high-quality AC power for utility grids and Umedaly said the wind market has very strong growth potential. Wind energy capacity in the U.S. grew by about 30 per cent last year.

"Wind power is very cost effective now, without needing any real significant incentives," he said. "As countries try to meet their renewable power targets, the use of wind will go up a lot."

Umedaly said renewable energy sources -- including solar, wind, biomass and hydro -- represent less than one per cent of most countries' energy supply and many want to boost that figure to 10 to 15 per cent by 2020.

"In North America, it's not unrealistic to think wind could supply 10 per cent of our power needs by 2020," he said.

Umedaly, who was recently appointed chairman of BC Hydro, said Xantrex wind converters are used on 2.5-megawatt wind turbines that can generate enough power for about 100 homes.

He wouldn't disclose the unit cost of the converters but they are believed to be worth about $125,000 US each.

PI Financial Corp. analyst Philip Tulk said the wind converter deal is an important transaction for Xantrex.

"It's probably more important than the numbers would indicate because the renewable side of Xantrex -- which represents about 40 per cent of total revenue -- is also the fastest-growing side of the company," he said in an interview. "Frankly, it's the most exciting side of Xantrex."

The company's three main product divisions include renewable, programmable and mobile power.

Tulk said about 70 to 80 per cent of Xantrex's renewable energy revenues come from solar power products but everybody likes the potential of wind power. He noted there are just four or five potential wind turbine customers Xantrex can sell to in North America and it would be good to find another customer besides Clipper Windpower.

full article continues at: Xantrex (XTX:T) news; windpower inverter contract

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Swiss Tech firm Oerlikon to double solar division capacity

2008-01-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

article from:

http://www.guardian.co.uk

By Richard Dobson

TAIPEI, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The solar unit of Swiss technology group Oerlikon said on Friday it would double its production capacity by adding a new plant in Asia and raised its 2008 sales forecast by 17 percent on surging demand.

A market leader in supplying machines that make thin-film solar cells, Oerlikon said it would establish a new production facility in Singapore as producers struggle to meet demand for the technology, the company said in a statement.

"We would have at least equal capacity out of Asia as we do in Europe," said Oerlikon Solar CEO Jeannine Sargent in a phone interview with Reuters.
Capacity for 2007 is expected to have hit 300 million francs, said Sargent, with the Singapore addition increasing sales four-fold, or around 1.2 billion francs once the plant becomes operational in the first quarter of 2009.

Record oil prices, concerns about climate change and government incentives to move away from fossil fuels have boosted investment in alternative energy sources, spurring demand for solar panels and lifting sales.

"Oerlikon Solar's sales have exceeded this year's planning and are expected to rise to more than 700 million Swiss francs ($636 million) in 2008, with growth rates exceeding 50 percent over the next several years," the company said in an emailed statement on Friday.

The company had forecast 2008 sales of 600 million francs in October.
Oerlikon's solar unit has a market share of around 50 percent for thin-film technology and competes with America's Applied Materials. Its customers include

Taiwan's CMC Magnetics Corp and Italy's Pramac SpA.
Thin-film solar cells use much less silicon than conventional solar cells, lowering production costs and module prices. However, they aren't as efficient at transferring the sun's energy into electricity as traditional crystalline cells.
Oerlikon is currently hiring for the Singapore facility and is seeking a location to build, said Sargent.

The plant will help meet surging demand in Asia, which Sargent said will be one of the fastest-growing regions for producing thin-film solar modules in the world over the next two to three years, said Sargent.

"Based on recent announcements, the Asian capacity for solar panels produced will grow to more then 4 GWp (gigawatt peak) by 2010, which is more than double that of
the U.S. and Europe," the company said in an emailed statement.

As demand has surged, suppliers have struggled to meet orders, and Sargent said Oerlikon, like others, was finding it a challenge to deliver.

"We'd like to have delivery times in the 6-9 month window, and we're probably slightly outside of that 9-month window right now, and that's why we're accelerating our plans both in Europe with the announced expansions as well as this new expansion for capacity in Asia," he said.

The potential of thin film has attracted major solar energy players such as German-based Q-Cells AG and Japan's Sharp Corp, one of the world's leading solar panel makers.

Analysis of FSLR's dependence on Tellurium and VNP

2008-01-12T09:42:00.000-08:00

article from: http://seekingalpha.com/

by Mark Anthony

We are living in a resource constrained world, due to rapid depletion of many of the none-renewable natural resources, like oil, coal, and metal mineral resources. As the main stream media wake up to the Peak Oil reality, I believe it is important to keep the reality of a resource constrained world in our mind, when making investment decisions. In this article I want to talk about precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum and palladium, the rare metal tellurium and selenium, coal mines, agriculture, sugar, and fertilizers. Relate to these resources I will talk about the following stocks: PAAS, CDE, SLW, PAL, SWC, OMG, FSLR, JRCC, IPSU, POT, SEED, TNH, COIN, not necessarily in that order. This is the first part in a series. I will take about them in more detail in the future.

First on First Solar Inc. (FSLR) and tellurium, because I have some breaking news! I have previously written about FSLR and its critical reliance on tellurium supply, and about the fact that tellurium is increasingly being used on important new applications, which could force FSLR out of business. I also suggested buying physical tellurium as an investment.

The breaking news I discovered about FSLR, is from 5N Plus Inc. (VNP.to). VNP recently went IPO and they have just made the first public release of quarterly operating results, for the quarter ending Nov. 30, 2007. Find it on Sedar.com. I was shocked to discover that VNP saw virtually NO growth in sales revenue over several of past quarters. Here are the numbers of quarterly sales revenues:
Nov. 30, 07 $6.796MAug. 31, 07 $6.394MMay.31, 07 $6.400M (extrapolated from year total)Feb.28, 07 $5.700M (extrapolated from year total)Nov.30, 06 $4.890MAug.31, 06 $4.903M

We know that 55% of VNP's sales are CdTe sales to FSLR, so that's about $3.75M per quarter. We know during this time period, FSLR saw incredible production capacity expansion, going from one production line to three at the end of 2006, and then seven during Q3, 2007, due to the new Germany factory reached full capacity. The thoughput speed of the production lines also increased greatly.

Full article continued at: FSLR raw materials dependency on VNP

Jerome Ball of AET predicts PV Oversupply

2008-01-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

Too Much PV in 2008?
Trader and Alternative Energy Trading blogger Jerome Ball thinks solar-electric stocks are headed for a fall, and soon.
by: Jerome Ball, a stock trader and author of the Alternative Energy Trading blog
Bullet Arrow January 10, 2008

The following opinion piece is from an independent writer and is not connected with Greentech Media News. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not endorsed by Greentech Media. Jerome Ball intends to trade various PV stocks, primarily with a short bias, over the course of 2008.

As a stock trader, I'm always sensitive to boom and bust cycles in an industry because they provide a fundamental backdrop for a stock. I track these cycles on my blog, Alternative Energy Trading. And I've recently gone from near-term bullish to bearish on PV stocks based on two trends I see emerging through 2010: first, that cells and panels will be in major oversupply by the end of 2008 and, second, that demand is set for a pause due to declining or delayed incentives in Germany, Spain and the United States.

I've compiled a table of year-end capacity through 2010 for more than 90 manufacturers of solar cells (see chart here), indicating my source for each company's number. A solid recent source is the Lehman Bros' Nov. 1 report initiating coverage on the sector. However, that report is already outdated and its cell-capacity data somewhat incomplete to begin with; I've relied on more current data from a wider set of sources including company earnings reports, presentations, Web sites or other press articles.

Supply and Demand

Bottom line: By the end of this year, cell producers will have an installed capacity of 12.4 gigawatts of annual production, according to present manufacturer plans. When you add in solar-thermal capacity (such as from Ausra, etc.) that number grows to 13.1 gigawatts or more. Looking ahead, the 2009 end-year production capacity is simply enormous, at over 17 gigawatts. Is this a problem? Oh, yes, when you look at the demand estimates. Match the year-end 2008 capacity of 12.4 gigawatts with 2009 demand: The European Photovoltaic Industry Association's optimistic ("policy-driven") estimate of 2009 world-wide demand is 4.3 gigawatts. Lehman calls it 4.8 gigawatts. Merrill Lynch has 5.2 gigawatts. A Q-Cells' presentation referred to a UBS number of 8 gigawatts. Even if you de-rate the 12.4-gigawatt number to account for "actual" vs. "nameplate" capacity; even if you attempt to adjust for "press-release" vs. "actually built" capacity, the numbers are still very out of balance. Even the most optimistic 2009 demand guesses fall far short of what the industry intends to produce.

The PV industry is heading for 50 to 100 percent capacity oversupply, at least.

Full article continues at: Solar Photovoltaic Oversupply Predicted

Check also:

New Wind Energy Investing website

Scientific American article envisions solar energy powering US by 2050

2008-01-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

Conscious Readers,

My feeling is that a widely decentralized, multi-sourced energy supply is key to both security and sustainability, but I also think that these visions of massive use of a single renewable power source are useful to show how much potential is out there. Another developing trend is this move to direct current from alternating current, as DC is part of this proposal to cover much of the southwest USA desert lands with solar photovoltaic and solar thermal generators.

Peace and Blessings,

Yuya Joe

Article from: Scientific American Magazine

* A massive switch from coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power plants to solar power plants could supply 69 percent of the U.S.’s electricity and 35 percent of its total energy by 2050.
* A vast area of photovoltaic cells would have to be erected in the Southwest. Excess daytime energy would be stored as compressed air in underground caverns to be tapped during nighttime hours.
* Large solar concentrator power plants would be built as well.
* A new direct-current power transmission backbone would deliver solar electricity across the country.
* But $420 billion in subsidies from 2011 to 2050 would be required to fund the infrastructure and make it cost-competitive.

—The Editors

High prices for gasoline and home heating oil are here to stay. The U.S. is at war in the Middle East at least in part to protect its foreign oil interests. And as China, India and other nations rapidly increase their demand for fossil fuels, future fighting over energy looms large. In the meantime, power plants that burn coal, oil and natural gas, as well as vehicles everywhere, continue to pour millions of tons of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere annually, threatening the planet.

Well-meaning scientists, engineers, economists and politicians have proposed various steps that could slightly reduce fossil-fuel use and emissions. These steps are not enough. The U.S. needs a bold plan to free itself from fossil fuels. Our analysis convinces us that a massive switch to solar power is the logical answer.

Solar energy’s potential is off the chart. The energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. The U.S. is lucky to be endowed with a vast resource; at least 250,000 square miles of land in the Southwest alone are suitable for constructing solar power plants, and that land receives more than 4,500 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of solar radiation a year. Converting only 2.5 percent of that radiation into electricity would match the nation’s total energy consumption in 2006.

To convert the country to solar power, huge tracts of land would have to be covered with photovoltaic panels and solar heating troughs. A direct-current (DC) transmission backbone would also have to be erected to send that energy efficiently across the nation.

The technology is ready. On the following pages we present a grand plan that could provide 69 percent of the U.S.’s electricity and 35 percent of its total energy (which includes transportation) with solar power by 2050. We project that this energy could be sold to consumers at rates equivalent to today’s rates for conventional power sources, about five cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). If wind, biomass and geothermal sources were also developed, renewable energy could provide 100 percent of the nation’s electricity and 90 percent of its energy by 2100.

Full article continues at: Scientific American article on USA solar energy potential

View also:

Geotherma.info Geothermal Energy Investing Website

Bees Trees Frogs Elephants Nature Blog

A Green Realtor Blog

UPDATED 2008 Best Renewable Power Websites, Links to Green Energy Blogs

2008-01-05T13:47:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of websites that I find can be valuable resources for those researching alternative energy technology and renewable power stocks. Great resources for green investing globally!!!

Environmental Realty and Ecological Property Website

American Solar Energy Society

Directory of Solar Power Info Online

DOE Energy-Efficiency and Renewable Power Website

EcoWorld.com - Nature and Technology In Harmony

Geothermal.info Geothermal Power website

Green-Energy-News.com

Home Power Magazine - Official Website

OyNot.com Solar Energy and Batteries

Renewable Energy Access Website

Renewable Energy Focus

RenewableEnergyStocks.com Global Stock List

Science Daily Solar Energy Information

SolarBuzz.com Best Solar Energy Website

Solar Energy Investment Blog

SunPoweredDreams.com Green Energy Blog

SPWR: Technical Analysis on SunPower at AskStockGuru.com

2008-01-02T19:00:00.000-08:00

Posted to AskStockGuru.com January 2, 2008

Quick Summary - Stock Quote and Research on SPWR

* The Stock is in Bullish Phase. The Bullish Phase occurs when there is an upside trend for the stock. The buyers are pushing the stock up.
* The stock has retraced 22.7% from its recent high price of 164.49 which occurred on 8-Nov-2007. The current price is below the 20 day moving average of 129.84. The stock could possibly find support at the 50 day moving average of 123.3.
* The closest support can be found at 121.49. The closest resistance can be found at 141.62. See Support/Resistance below for details.

Full article continues at:

Technical Analysis of SunPower Corp (SPWR)

Alternative Energy Megasite Environmental-Expert.com

2008-01-02T18:54:00.000-08:00

About Environmental-Expert.com Renewable Power Portal

Environmental Expert connects over 500,000 environmental industry professionals from around the globe to over 13,000 companies that provide the products, services and information they need to do their job successfully.

Environmental Expert is more than just an online marketplace! Unlike other sites, the Environmental Expert portal contains an unmatched wealth of industry-related information and resources, like publications, events, articles, job postings, press releases & news, thus ensuring that professionals use Environmental Expert as a professional tool and keep coming back to stay in touch with what's happening in the industry.

We currently provide premium marketing services to over 1,300 companies in the industry by helping them promote their equipment, services, publications, events, and more to our industry-specific user base, the only online environmental industry community that truly spans the globe.

View this global alternative energy industry site here:

Directory of Environmental and Alternative Energy Companies

Check also:

Geothermal Power Companies and Websites

$100 a Barrel for Oil; Gold Hits Record of $864.90

2008-01-02T18:47:00.000-08:00

EDMONTON (CBC.ca) - Oil hit $100 US a barrel for the first time and gold prices broke a 28-year-old record on Wednesday as the bull run in commodities got new wind.

Data from the New York Mercantile Exchange indicated the price of the February contract for light, sweet crude oil hit $100 US shortly after noon ET. The price slipped to $99.62 US by the close of trading, up $3.64 US.

That broke the previous record of $99.29 US a barrel that was set last November.

Oil prices jumped after OPEC warned it might not be able to meet its share of global oil demand as early as 2024.

Fresh violence in Nigeria - a major global oil producer - was also seen as a factor in driving up prices.

On Tuesday, armed militants attacked two police stations and a hotel in the main oil industry centre of Port Harcourt. Thirteen people, including four police officers and six attackers, were reported killed in the raids.

Attacks by the militants have reduced Nigeria's oil exports by about 20 per cent over the past two years, putting upward pressure on global prices.

On Thursday, the U.S. government releases its weekly report on oil supply data. Analysts are looking for supplies to show a seventh consecutive weekly decline.

Full article continues at: $100 Oil and Gold at Record Prices - CBC Story

Best of 2007 Renewable Energy News

2008-01-01T17:43:00.000-08:00

Find the top Alternative Energy stories of 2007, green power stocks in the news, clean energy investing, photovoltaic solar blogs, publicly-traded wind energy stocks, alternative energy investments for 2008, biomass research links, best of renewable power news for 2007.

Gintech of Taiwan places 10-yr, $700 million order at MEMC

Ecology, Science, Environmental and Nature Blogs

Benefits for African and Latin American countries from solar power developments

Solar Electricity in Africa prevents global warming

2008 UK conference to host alternative energy companies, engineers and investors

Green Power investing spurred by new alternative energy mutual funds

World’s biggest solar thermal project being built in California

(GOOG) Google launches RE < C, renewable energy at less cost than coal

Greenedia.com; Source for ethical, environmental and socially responsible media

Directory of renewable power sites, nature and ecology blogs

Low Temperature Geothermal project in northern Ontario

LDK and Q-Cells sign 10-year solar energy deal

Publicly-listed Solar Power stocks

North Africa and Middle Eastern solar power, Wind energy from Atlantic to power Europe

Best Renewable Power Websites, Alternative Energy Investments

Directory of Clean Energy / Renewable Power Websites

Asia Development Bank warns: Asian Water Crisis deepening

Top Geothermal Power Investing Websites and Blogs

Best of December: Alternative Energy Websites and Blogs

2007-12-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

It was an exciting month for solar energy stocks, windpower investments and investing in geothermal energy!!! Here are a few December posts that will continue to find value as investors look for the most promising stocks of 2008:

* Solar Energy Investing, Solar Power Stocks News

* NYC Mayor Bloomberg promotes microturbine energy

* Investment ideas for 2008: Wind, Geothermal, Hydropower

* Current CPNLQ shareholders to be offered warrants

* Geothermal Power Companies - Publicly-traded geothermal energy stocks

* Hydrogen Fuel Efficiency company Hy-Drive (TSX-V: HGS)

* SPWR and MMA: build America's largest PV solar array

* China's Goldwind Sci & Tech IPO - new windpower stock

* New Canadian technology purifies natural gas

* Global Alternative Energy Stock components

* Q-Cells (CQEG) investing in thin-film solar energy technology

* Transcript of Brad Pitt interview on Larry King, re New Orleans

* Green Power Conferences slated for Barcelona, New York City

* Investors List of Windpower stocks

* Publicly-listed Solar Energy Companies

* Best of SolarIntell.com NOV07 - Alternative Energy Investing Websites

AND, please welcome the newest entry into the category of best renewable energy investing websites: Geothermal Energy Investing Websites and Blogs
Checl also:

Bees Trees Frogs Elephants; Nature, Science and Ecology Blog

Solar Intelligence Blog - Green Energy as a Path to Peace

Bourne believes solar energy technology approaching tipping point

2007-12-28T20:18:00.000-08:00

Investments in alternative energy technologies and models of innovation.

article from: Bourne To Be Wild

How do we cut through the hype in the varied landscape of alternative energy technologies? From time to time, there is a lot of excitement about a great NY Times article on Solar Power technology.

Here’s Vinod Khosla’s talk on the topic:
http://www.technologyreview.com/player/08/01/MagBiofuels/3.aspx

Interesting point to note about all similar articles on Nanosolar:

1. The good news: Germany has placed huge bets on coal energy. Its dependence on coal fire plants is similar to that of the US. A serious investment like that in Germany could correlate to investments in the US.

2. The articles don’t mention what folks eventually live and die by in technology- TCO. $1 per watt sounds like zero TCO. Storage is critical too. The good news: Khosla’s talk covers this point of view. So someone has that figured out to a degree.

3. Of course, just as investments in solar power are improving cost and efficiency, investments in (recent bad boy) ethanol and coal technologies are improving the cost and efficiency of those sources of energy. Non polluting coal power plants have 35% efficiency on coal. Solar energy based approaches of the type mentioned in the article hope to get there by 2011. Anyone betting on breakthroughs (safety, TCO, etc.) in nuclear power?

While multiple approaches to the energy crisis are the only way forward, it is really going to boil down to models of innovation. Or is it?

Full article continues at: Solar Energy Technology Models

Solar Energy Investing, Solar Power Stocks News

2007-12-27T18:09:00.000-08:00

SolarIntell.com brings you info on Renewable Power Stocks, Green Energy Funds, Alternative Energy Investments, clean fuels research, info on solar power, renewable energy mutual funds, solar power companies websites, geothermal energy investing, green energy funds, windpower stocks, co-generation and alternative energy investments.

Energy Bill, Oil Prices Spike Drive Up 'Clean Energy' ETFs

article from: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/IBD-0001-21922625.htm

Dec. 28, 2007 (Investor's Business Daily via CNN)

Keeping it clean recently has translated to keeping the profits rolling in for many investors.

Those who put their money behind "clean" energy companies, which focus on renewable resources, saw the happy results all week.

Several factors were behind the rise. Last week, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 into law. The bill mandates lowered fossil fuel use and quadrupled alternative biofuel use over the next 15 years.

Exchange traded funds that track clean energy (NASDAQ:CLNE) began to rise immediately after the bill became law. The largest and oldest, PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy PBW, jumped nearly 10% during that time. Almost half the fund, which has an IBD Relative Strength Rating of 94, is invested in alternative energy sources.

Some of the WilderHill fund's largest holdings include Sunpower SPWR, Suntech Power Holdings STP and Yingli Green Energy YGE, all of which hold a 99 RS.

Other ETFs

Similar funds, such as First Trust (NYSE:FGB) (NYSE:FMY) (NYSE:FAM) (NYSE:FEO) (TSX:FHT.UN) Nasdaq Clean Edge US Liquid Series Index Fund QCLN, Market Vectors Alternative Energy GEX and PowerShares Clean Tech PZD also rose nicely after the bill was signed.

The uptick for all the funds continued Wednesday after a Chinese government report announced that the country plans to increase renewable energy consumption to 10% of total energy consumption by 2010 and 15% by 2020. The 44-page report said China will promote development of hydropower, solar, methane, wind and other renewable energy sources and increase their market shares.

Article continues at: Green Exchange Traded Funds Rise on News, Legislation

More solar energy news stories, alternative energy investing websites, renewable power stocks, green energy mutual funds and solar power stocks:

Technical Analysis of SunPower Corp (SPWR), at AskStockGuru.com

Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy ETF (GEX): GEX Alternative Energy Fund Holdings

Interview with NOAH BLACKSTEIN, Stock picks for 2008

Manager of Dynamic Power Global Growth Class (global equity)

Mr. Blackstein is upbeat on global stock markets for 2008 despite expectations of slower growth. "There is a risk of a recession [in the U.S.], but I think that the actions of the central banks will stave it off," said the manager with Dynamic Mutual Funds Ltd.

Co-ordination among central banks to cut interest rates and take measures to increase liquidity "will buoy the stock markets next year," he said.

Mr. Blackstein is also upbeat because his growth investing style - out of favour since the Internet bubble popped seven years ago - has come back into vogue. In an economic slowdown, investors will pay up for growth, he said.

"I think this is the beginning of a multiyear cycle for growth," said Mr. Blackstein, who buys companies that can deliver above-average revenue and earnings growth.

He likes U.S. technology stocks and alternative energy companies in Europe. "The shift to alternative energy is a big, long-term secular growth trend," and will continue to play out next year, he said.

Mr. Blackstein owns stocks of alternative energy companies like Q-Cells AG; SolarWorld AG, Vestas Wind Systems AS and First Solar Inc., a big driver for his fund this year.

He is less sanguine about the emerging markets coming off a strong year. But he owns a few names in the wireless telecom sector, including China Mobile Ltd. and India's GTL Infrastructure Ltd.

Research In Motion Ltd. is his only Canadian stock. "The smart phone revolution, of which RIM and Apple are at the forefront, has a very long way to go," he said.

Full article and interviews with managers of PETER HODSON, manager of Sprott Growth Fund F series (Canadian small/mid cap), MARK MOBIUS, from Templeton BRIC Fund F series (emerging markets), CHRIS BEER, fund manager for RBC Global Resources Fund (natural resources), and NANDU NARAYANAN, CI Global Opportunities and CI Trident Global Opportunities (alternative strategies), who each provide their 2008 investment outlook, best stock opportunities

CPST news; Capstone announces 1 megawatt microturbine system

2007-12-22T20:09:00.000-08:00

Capstone Announces First Megawatt Microturbine Solution
Wednesday December 12, 5:00 am ET

CHATSWORTH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.microturbine.com) (NASDAQ:CPST - News), the world’s leading clean technology manufacturer of microturbine energy systems announced today the C1000, the world’s first megawatt microturbine solution.

The new robust megawatt power systems, based on Capstone’s C200 microturbine product line, can be configured into 1,000 kW, 800 kW and 600 kW solutions in a single 28-foot-long ISO container. Other benefits include:

- Low greenhouse-gas emissions

- Patented air-bearing microturbine technology

- Easy to install and commission -- single fuel and electrical connection

- Minimal scheduled maintenance and downtime

- Low noise and vibration

- One of the industry’s smallest modular footprints

Additional features include Capstone’s remote monitoring and diagnostic capabilities, and integrated utility synchronization and protection. Comprehensive Factory Protection Plans are available.

“This is another important technical achievement for Capstone as we will be able to effectively compete in megawatt scale projects and therefore double our addressable market,” said Jim Crouse, Capstone Turbine Corporation’s Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

“The C1000 platform applies the same dependable technology found in our proven 30kW and 65kW products,” said Darren Jamison, Capstone’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We believe the C1000 will be well received in the United States and abroad and reinforce our commitment to provide customers one of the most environmentally friendly distributed generation products available.”

Every installed C1000 Capstone MicroTurbine solution is equivalent to removing up to 700 average U.S. passenger vehicles from the road, based on EPA emissions and efficiency data for the average US power plant and average passenger vehicle, or the equivalent of 730 acres of pine and fir forest, based on CO2 reductions.

About Capstone Turbine

Capstone Turbine Corporation (www.microturbine.com) (NASDAQ:CPST - News) is the world's leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems, and was the first to market commercially viable microturbine energy products. Capstone Turbine has shipped over 4,000 Capstone MicroTurbine® systems to customers worldwide. These award-winning systems have logged millions of documented runtime operating hours. Capstone Turbine is a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power Partnership, which is committed to improving the efficiency of the nation’s energy infrastructure and reducing emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases. A UL-Certified ISO 9001:2000 certified company; Capstone Turbine is headquartered in the Los Angeles area with sales and/or service centers in New York, Mexico City, Milan, Nottingham, Shanghai and Tokyo.

“Capstone Turbine Corporation” and “Capstone MicroTurbine” are registered trademarks of Capstone Turbine Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements," as that term is used in the federal securities laws, about the benefits of our new C1000 product and new sales opportunities for Capstone globally for the new C1000 product. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as "expects," "objective," "intend," "targeted," "plan" and similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties described in Capstone's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that may cause Capstone's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied in such statements. Capstone cautions readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Capstone undertakes no obligation, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

NYC Mayor Bloomberg promotes microturbine energy systems, on-site power generation

2007-12-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

December 3, 2007
www.NYC.org

MAYOR BLOOMBERG CREATES NEW RULE, MAKING ON-SITE POWER GENERATION TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

Standard for Safe Use and Installation of Energy-Efficient Microturbine Systems Will Enable Owners to Participate in PlaNYC Goal of Increasing Clean Power Generation

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced a new rule setting the country's first standard for the safe use and installation of microturbine systems in residential and commercial buildings. Microturbines are highly efficient turbine generators that recover and reuse the wasted heat of their own combustion process, after producing electricity and heat for a building, to provide energy for other building operations. By reusing heat that would otherwise be exhausted into the atmosphere, microturbines greatly increase the usable energy produced by fossil fuels, reduce carbon emissions, and provide building owners opportunities for operational cost savings. The new rule was published in today's City Record and takes effect immediately.

"I want to thank the Cogeneration Task Force, lead by Buildings Commissioner Patricia Lancaster and Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta, for the serious attention they've given this issue and for coming up with a rule that will allow for the use of microturbines in buildings here in New York and to ensure that they are safely and properly installed," said Mayor Bloomberg. "This rule will help us to meet our commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions citywide by 30% between now and 2030, and it will help spur the real estate and development communities to build more efficient, greener projects moving forward."

Buildings in New York City generate 79% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions. By supplying on-site power generation to buildings, microturbine systems provide an energy-efficient supplement to power plants, New York City's conventional power supply. Estimates show, for a given amount of fossil fuel, microturbines generate 70 to 80 percent of its usable energy, whereas only 30 to 35% of the energy produced by power plants is usable.

"Microturbines allow buildings to generate a portion of their own electricity in a clean and efficient manner. Owners who take advantage of microturbine technology will help distribute clean power generation throughout the five boroughs, which will in part address the clean energy needs of New York's dense urban community," said Buildings Commissioner Lancaster. "Through our public-private partnership formed under the Cogeneration Task Force, we have set a standard for the safe use and installation of micrortubine systems where no standard existed before. We look forward to continuing our partnership to develop safe regulations for next-generation technology that will make New York City more sustainable."

"The Fire Department is proud to have been part of the Cogeneration Task Force that has reviewed and approved the use of microturbine systems," said Fire Commissioner Scoppetta. "This new technology offers improved energy efficiency in buildings, while maintaining our city's high standards for public safety."

The market for on-site power generation technology has expanded in recent years as residential and commercial building owners demanded new ways to lower building operational costs and provide back-up energy in the case of power losses. While regulations exist for microturbine systems used in manufacturing buildings, no major US city has regulated the safe use and installation of microturbines in residential and commercial buildings until now. The new rule enables building owners to take advantage of microturbine technology, which will help the City reach its PlaNYC goal of expanding clean distributed power generation citywide.

"The use of microturbines to generate electricity on site at commercial and residential buildings benefits us all," said Real Estate Board of New York President Steven Spinola. "Because of the efficiency of these systems, New Yorkers will breathe cleaner air and building owners will save on operating costs. We can also add needed electric generation capacity without further taxing the transmission and distribution systems."

"Distributed generation of energy is crucial to making New York a greener and more sustainable city," said Douglas Durst, Co-President of The Durst Organization. "By producing electricity on site and capturing waste heat to make hot water, microturbines are critical to increasing the efficiency of buildings and reducing the City's carbon foot print. I thank Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayors Skyler and Doctoroff and the Buildings and Fire Department for their cooperation and foresight and look forward to working with them on implementing this new rule."

"Today's announcement by Mayor Bloomberg represents another important step in moving towards increased use of co-generated electricity in our homes and offices. In the coming years, all new developments should be using this more efficient and cleaner way to cool and heat our buildings," said Ashok Gupta, Air & Energy Program Director, Natural Resources Defense Council.

Under the new rule, microturbine systems approved by nationally recognized testing laboratories can be installed at residential and commercial buildings in various locations, including within weatherproof enclosures at grade or on roofs and within mechanical rooms built with 2-hour fire-resistance rated walls. To install approved microturbine systems, a building owner must receive clearance from the utility company and file an application with the Buildings Department. Once a permit is obtained and the system is installed, an owner must obtain a permit from the Fire Department to operate it.

Investment ideas for 2008: Wind, Geothermal, Hydrogen, Alternative Energy Stocks

2007-12-22T12:31:00.000-08:00

Humanikind,

Here are some long-term investment ideas to consider for 2008. As a Canadian, 2 well-run firms worth considering are Tim Hortons ( THI quote from Morningstar) and TD Bank (TD Quote from Marketwatch.com. I have no idea what will happen to the two stocks over the next year, but if you invest in companies like these two, over the long term you will likely have increased dividends plus capital gains.

Alternative energy investing in renewable power technology companies is more high risk, especially now that some players are into early bubble territory. What will happen to the sector if oil falls to $70, 60, 50 40 ... ? That could create a short-term selling panic in clean energy stocks, and a subsequent buying opportunity, but the opposite may occur if oil rises to $110 or $120 or more.

Here are some companies worth investigating further:

Vestas Wind (VWS / VWSYF) is the No. 1 producer of modern clean energy; with a 28 per cent market share, and 33,500 wind turbines installed.

Hy-Drive Technologies Ltd. (HGS) is a hydrogen-based energy and power technology firm that has developed a patented Hydrogen Generating System (HGS). The HGS generates, on-demand, and injects small amounts of hydrogen gas into the combustion chamber of a regular internal combustion engine creating an enriched air mixture and a more complete and faster burn of the air-fuel mixture. The result is reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency and torque.

The initial application of Hy-Drive’s technologies is its proprietary "on-board" hydrogen and oxygen gas generation and injection system for internal combustion engines, the "Hydrogen Generating System" or "HGS". The initial target markets for Hy-Drive are the existing commercial diesel-powered trucks and buses in the "after-market".

Suzlon Energy SUZL The world of wind power is growing at a phenomenal pace. Projections put the average growth of the industry at over 25% for the next five years. Suzlon is at the leading edge of this growth.

Xantrex Technology Inc (TSX.V: XTX) is a world leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of advanced power electronic products and systems for the distributed, mobile and programmable power markets.

Capstone Turbine Corp. (NASDAQ: CPST) Capstone Turbine Corporation is the world's leading producer of low-emission microturbine systems.

Geothermal Power Stocks; Geothermal Energy Investing:

Green Rock Energy ASX: GRK

Green Rock Energy Limited is engaged in the pursuit of geothermal energy resources and the development of low-emission, base load, renewable energy in Australia.

Green Rock Energy company website

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc NGLPF

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (NGP) is engaged in the business of developing renewable geothermal energy projects in Nevada and Oregon.

Nevada Power company website

Google Finance stock quote: NGLPF

Ormat Technologies Inc ORA

Ormat Technologies company info, profile on Reuters

ORA stock quote from Fool.com

Polaris Geothermal TSX: GEO

Polaris is a renewable resource company currently focused on the development of renewable energy in Latin America. Polaris is currently developing a 66 MW geothermal project on its San Jacinto Tizate concession in Nicaragua.

Polaris Geothermal company website

Sierra Geothermal Power Corp CA;SRA

Sierra Geothermal Power official website

U S Geothermal Inc UGTH

US Geothermal, UGTH company info

Western GeoPower Corp CA;WGP

Western GeoPower Corp. company website

WFI Industries Ltd CA;WFI

WFI stock quote on Yahoo Finance

View also: Solar Intelligence Blog; Clean Energy, World Peace

Current CPNLQ shareholders to be offered warrants for 10% of re-org

2007-12-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

SAN JOSE, Calif. and HOUSTON, Dec. 21, 2007 (Canada NewsWire) - Calpine Corporation (OTC: CPNLQ) announced today that as part of its Sixth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan"), it will issue warrants to purchase approximately 50 million shares of its new common stock, or about 10 percent of the common stock to be issued pursuant to the Plan, to holders of its currently outstanding common stock. Each warrant will represent the right to purchase a single share of Calpine's new common stock. The exercise price per share has not yet been determined, but it is expected to be based on a stipulated reorganized equity value of $11.942 billion. For illustrative purposes, assuming the issuance of 500 million shares on the effective date, the exercise price would be $23.88 per share. The expiration date of the warrants will be Aug. 25, 2008 or the date that is six months after the effective date of the Plan, which ever is later. No fractional warrants will be issued and no cash in lieu of fractional warrants will be distributed. The warrants will be transferable, but they will not be listed on any exchange.

The specific number of warrants to be issued, the exercise price and expiration date have not yet been determined. In addition, the exercise price, when issued, is intended to be "out-of-the-money," although the extent to which it is or is not "out-of-the-money" will depend on the market price of the new Calpine common stock, which can not be known at this time. There can be no assurance that the warrants will be "in-the-money" at any time prior to their expiration date.

The currently outstanding shares of common stock will be cancelled on the effective date of the Plan and will no longer represent an interest in Calpine Corporation.

About Calpine

Calpine Corporation is helping meet the needs of an economy that demands more and cleaner sources of electricity. Founded in 1984, Calpine is a major U.S. power company, currently capable of delivering nearly 24,000 megawatts of clean, cost-effective, reliable, and fuel-efficient electricity to customers and communities in 18 states in the U.S. The company owns, leases, and operates low-carbon, natural gas-fired, and renewable geothermal power plants. Using advanced technologies, Calpine generates electricity in a reliable and environmentally responsible manner for the customers and communities it serves. Please visit http://www.calpine.com for more information.

Forward Looking Statement>>

In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. We use words such as "believe," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "may," "will" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include, among others, those concerning our expected financial performance and strategic and operational plans, as well as all assumptions, expectations, predictions, intentions or beliefs about future events. You are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that a number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) the risks and uncertainties associated with our Chapter 11 cases and Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings of certain of Calpine's Canadian affiliates, including our ability to successfully reorganize and emerge from Chapter 11; (ii) our ability to implement our business plan; (iii) financial results that may be volatile and may not reflect historical trends; (iv) seasonal fluctuations of our results; (v) potential volatility in earnings associated with fluctuations in prices for commodities such as natural gas and power; (vi) our ability to manage liquidity needs and comply with covenants related to our existing financing obligations and anticipated exit financing; (vii) the direct or indirect effects on our business of our impaired credit including increased cash collateral requirements in connection with the use of commodity contracts; (viii) transportation of natural gas and transmission of electricity; (ix) the expiration or termination of our power purchase agreements and the related results on revenues; * risks associated with the operation of power plants including unscheduled outages; (xi) factors that impact the output of our geothermal resources and generation facilities, including unusual or unexpected steam field well and pipeline maintenance and variables associated with the waste water injection projects that supply added water to the steam reservoir; (xii) risks associated with power project development and construction activities; (xiii) our ability to attract, retain and motivate key employees; (xiv) our ability to attract and retain customers and contract counterparties; (xv) competition; (xvi) risks associated with marketing and selling power from plants in the evolving energy markets; (xvii) present and possible future claims, litigation and enforcement actions; (xviii) effects of the application of laws or regulations, including changes in laws or regulations or the interpretation thereof; and (xix) other risks identified from time-to-time in Calpine's reports and registration statements filed with the SEC, including, without limitation, the risk factors identified in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and Calpine undertakes no obligation to update any such statements. Unless specified otherwise, all information set forth in this release is as of today's date and Calpine undertakes no duty to update this information. For additional information about Calpine's chapter 11 reorganization or general business operations, please refer to Calpine's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, Calpine's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and any other recent Calpine report to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available by visiting the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov or Calpine's website at http://www.calpine.com.

SOURCE: Calpine Corporation

Media Relations, Mel Scott, +1-713-570-4553, scottm@calpine.com, or Investor
Relations, Norma Dunn, +1-713-830-8883, ndunn@calpine.com, both of Calpine
Corporation

Calpine Corporation Web Site

Press Release on Calpine Corporation Warrant Offering

Geothermal Power Stock List - Publicly-listed geothermal energy investments

2007-12-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Find info on geothermal power investing, geothermal energy stocks, geothermal stocks list, publicly-traded geothermal energy companies.

Calpine Corp CPNLQ

Calpine is poised to exit bankruptcy
JUDGE APPROVES PLAN TO PAY OFF CREDITORS WITH NEW STOCK
By Christopher Scinta
Bloomberg News
Article Launched: 12/20/2007 05:35:43 AM PST

Calpine, which filed the largest U.S. bankruptcy of 2005, won approval Wednesday for its plan to pay off creditors with new stock and emerge from federal court protection.

Unsecured creditors will receive stock worth about 97 percent of what they are owed by Calpine, a San Jose-based power producer that generates enough electricity for about 19.2 million homes.

The ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Burton Lifland leaves Calpine poised to emerge from bankruptcy before Feb. 7. The company reached a deal with creditors and shareholders to set the value of the new Calpine at $18.95 billion and give shareholders warrants to buy stock.

"I do find justification for the settlement that's come along," Lifland said, adding the $18.95 billion figure was close to what he had determined the company was worth.

The company earlier this week cut a deal with the committees representing its unsecured creditors and shareholders to fix a value for the company and give the shareholders a recovery in the case.

Full article at Calpine stock news: Emerging from bankruptcy

Calpine stock quote Google Finance

Green Rock Energy ASX: GRK

Green Rock Energy Limited is engaged in the pursuit of geothermal energy resources and the development of low-emission, base load, renewable energy. In South Australia, the Company has seven geothermal exploration licences (GELs) totalling 2,897 square kilometres and two GEL applications surrounding Olympic Dam Mine and the Roxby Downs township.

Green Rock Energy company website

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc NGLPF

Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (NGP) is engaged in the business of developing renewable geothermal energy projects in Nevada and Oregon. The Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Nevada Geothermal Power Company (NGPC) hold leases on four projects: Blue Mountain, Pumpernickel and Black Warrior, all located in Nevada and Crump Geyser located in Oregon. As of January 16, 2007, the Company had not commenced commercial operations.

Nevada Power geothermal company website

Google Finance stock quote: NGLPF

Ormat Technologies Inc ORA

Ormat Technologies company info, profile on Reuters

ORA stock quote from Fool.com

Polaris Geothermal TSX: GEO

CORPORATE PROFILE

Polaris is a renewable resource company currently focused on the development of renewable energy in Latin America. Polaris is currently developing a 66 MW geothermal project on its San Jacinto Tizate concession in Nicaragua.

The San Jacinto Tizate concession contains two resource sectors, known as the eastern and western sectors. Preliminary reports from Polaris engineering consultants Sinclair Knight Merz indicate that the entire resource area, the mean capacity is estimated to be 277 MWe, with a 90% probability that the resource capacity will be greater than 203 MWe. Within that total, the eastern resource is estimated to have a mean capacity of 86 MWe and a 90% probability of being greater than 67 MWe. Polaris has rights to develop additional concessions.

Polaris Geothermal company website

Sierra Geothermal Power Corp CA;SRA

Sierra Geothermal Power official website

U S Geothermal Inc UGTH

US Geothermal, UGTH company info

Western GeoPower Corp CA;WGP

Western GeoPower Corp. company website

WFI Industries Ltd CA;WFI

WFI stock quote on Yahoo Finance

Please view also:

Geothermal Energy Investing - List of Companies

Solar Intelligence; Renewable Energy, Music, Peace

Bees Trees Frogs Elephants Enviroblog; Nature, Ecology, Science, Habitat

EarthFirst (TSX:EF) buying 144 megs of wind turbines from Vestas, for Dokie Ridge, BC

2007-12-21T12:06:00.000-08:00

EarthFirst buys 48 Vestas V90 3 MegaWatt wind turbines for Dokie Ridge project in BC, Canada

VICTORIA, BC, Dec. 17 /CNW/ - EarthFirst Canada Inc. ("EarthFirst") (EF, EF.WT; TSX) is pleased to announce that it has placed an order with Vestas-Canadian Wind Technology Inc. for 48 of its V90-3.0 MW wind turbines to be installed at EarthFirst's 144 MW Dokie Ridge project located in the Rocky Mountain foothills of the Peace River region in north-eastern British Columbia, Canada.

LDK Solar revenue up 60%, profit up 40%; conference call audio avail til 24dec07

2007-12-21T12:02:00.000-08:00

December 19, 2007

LDK Solar Reports Financial Results for the Third Quarter 2007

Xinyu City, China and Sunnyvale, California, December 19, 2007 – LDK Solar Co., Ltd. (NYSE:LDK), a leading manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, today reported its unaudited financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2007.
All financial results are reported on a U.S. GAAP basis.
Third Quarter 2007 Financial Highlights:

* Revenue of $158.7 million, up 60% quarter-over-quarter
* Gross profit of $48.9 million, up 40% quarter-over-quarter
* Net income of $41.6 million, or $0.37 per diluted ADS, up 45% quarter-over-quarter
* Signed four long-term wafer supply agreements during the third quarter
* Total wafer shipments increased 49% sequentially to 78.9MW in the third quarter

Net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 were $158.7 million, up 60.2% sequentially from $99.1 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2007, and up 404.7% year-over-year from $31.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2006.
Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $48.9 million, up 40.2% sequentially from $34.9 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2007, and up 295.1% year-over-year from $12.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2006.Gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was 30.8% compared with 35.2% in the second quarter of fiscal 2007 and 39.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2006.
Net income for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 was $41.6 million, or $0.37 per diluted ADS, compared to net income of $28.7 million, or $0.29 per diluted ADS for the second quarter of fiscal 2007, and $5.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted ADS for the third quarter of fiscal 2006.
The Company ended the third quarter of fiscal 2007 with $125.9 million in cash and cash equivalents.
“We are pleased to report strong results for the third quarter, following a positive outcome of the independent inventory review,” stated Xiaofeng Peng, Chairman and CEO of LDK Solar.“With the inventory investigation behind us, we have returned our focus to growing our business.During the third quarter we experienced continued robust demand for our wafers and made great strides in expanding our customer base.We signed four long-term wafer supply contracts during the third quarter and five more since the quarter closed. We view these agreements as a testament to the quality of our products.
“We remain on track to meet our wafer production capacity goal of 400MW by the end of 2007. Additionally, the construction of our polysilicon plant is tracking with our original plan.In addition to the anticipated cost efficiencies we expect to achieve upon completion of our polysilicon plant, we are continuing cost reduction efforts through further advancements of our product processes,” concluded Mr. Peng.
Business Outlook
The following statements are based upon management's current expectations. These statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements.
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, LDK estimates revenue to be in the range of $180 to $185 million for wafer shipments of 87 to 92MW.The Company also estimates fully diluted earnings per ADS to be in the range of $0.40 to $0.43.
Conference Call Details
The LDK Third Quarter teleconference and webcast is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), on Wednesday, December 19, 2007. To listen to the live conference call, please dial 800-366-7449 (within U.S.) or 303-262-2193 (outside U.S.) at 5:50 p.m. ET on December 19, 2007. An audio replay of the call will be available to investors through December 24, 2007, by dialing 800-405-2236 (within U.S.) or 303-590-3000 (outside U.S.) and entering the passcode 11104747##.
A live webcast of the call will be available on the company's investor relations website at investor.ldksolar.com.

Scott Edward Anderson LOVES his solar energy stock portfolio

2007-12-21T11:56:00.001-08:00

The Sun will always shine on its little sister, Earth. Well at least until it enters the asymptotic giant branch of a planetary nebula phase in about 7.8 billion years. (You think global warming is bad now? Trust me, you don't want to be around for the sun's nebula phase and the boiling rivers.)

Meanwhile, however, there is growing interest in harnessing the Sun's energy for the purposes of continuing life on Earth. And solar power, once de rigeur for unwashed hippies and counter-culture, off-the-grid, back-to-the-landers. And Libertarians. Did I forget to mention Libertarians?

Anyway, we've been pimping solar plays here on The Green Skeptic for some time, and it seems the sun is shining all over these days. Some of my favorite investor/pundit-type dudes, like Howard Lindzon and Jim Cramer, are getting frothed about it, and even private plays like Nanosolar are getting attention for its "buck a watt" solution.

Despite the fact that Congress excluded alternative energy incentives from its Energy Bill, which I thought might actually hurt solar plays, these stocks and companies seem to be on the rise. And this is a good thing: for the economy, for the environment, and for investors.

As Howard put it yesterday: "This is the beginning, not the end, of solar energy. Very exciting times. If you get mucked up focused on the averages and the financials, you will miss all the great new trends just beginning."

Read Scott's solar power stocks including FSLR, CSUN, AMAT, STP, VSE, SPWR, SHCAY, WFR and CSIQ at The Green Skeptic - Agent for Social Change

Schaeffer likes FSLR despite PE of 178, cites proft growth

2007-12-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

article from:

http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/18/best-stocks-for-2008-first-solar-fslr/

Our favorite speculative play for 2008 is First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR)," says Bernie Schaeffer, editor of Schaeffer's Investment Research.

"First Solar is a specialized semiconductor company that is a play on the alternative-energy theme. FSLR designs, manufactures and sells solar electric power modules. With a price-earnings (P/E) ratio of 178 and the stock posting gains of nearly 700% in 2007, investors in FSLR should expect a potentially wild ride.

"Despite the 'internet bubble-like' appreciation in the stock, we think the trend can continue, as this is a company with actual earnings and its share of naysayers. The skepticism is an indication that there is sideline buying power that can drive the equity even higher in the months to come.

"FSLR's third-quarter earnings report was spectacular. Net income of 58 cents per share easily topped Wall Street's estimate of 19 cents per share, sending the stock soaring on the news. The year-over-year earnings growth rate in the third quarter was an outstanding 729%.
"But impressive earnings and strong price action have not been enough to convince the shorts. Since its IPO in November 2006, short interest has increased from 920,000 shares to the current six million shares.

"Short interest as a percentage of float is a whopping 32%. Further price appreciation could send the shorts scrambling to cover their positions, keeping the current uptrend intact as we move through 2008."

JANCO advise proft-taking on ESLR autumn run-up

2007-12-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

JANCO downgrades Evergreen Solar (Nasdaq: ESLR) from Buy to Market Perform with a $16 price target.

Article from: http://www.streetinsider.com

JANCO downgraded Evergreen Solar stock (Nasdaq: ESLR) from Buy to Market Perform with a $16 price target.

The firm called Friday's 10% run-up an overreaction to the 10-year polysilicon supply contract announcement. JANCO also noted that Evergreen's stock price has gone up by about 44% since 10/31. Over the same period, shares of SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWR), a leading competitor, have only appreciated by about 1.4%.

JANCO said it believes in Evergreen's management and downgraded the stock solely on valuation and a difficult market environment.

Evergreen Solar, Inc. engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of solar power products primarily in Europe and the United States.

Hydrogen Fuel Efficiency firm Hy-Drive (TSX-V: HGS) lands new CEO

2007-12-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

Hy-Drive Announces Appointment of New President and Chief Executive Officer

TORONTO, ON, December 18, 2007 – Hy-Drive Technologies Ltd. (TSX-V: HGS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Hugo T. Sorensen to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer effective January 2, 2008. Mr. Sorensen brings to Hy-Drive a wealth of proven executive leadership experience in both the private and public company sector. Most recently, Mr. Sorensen served as President and Chief Executive Officer of a high performance multi-division TSX listed company with revenues in excess of $1.5 billion.

“We are delighted Hugo has elected to join Hy-Drive at this important time in our Company’s history,” stated Dan Doucette, Hy-Drive’s Chairman of the Board of Directors. “Hugo’s background experience, proven leadership ability and impressive track record of facilitating top and bottom line Company growth will expectedly bring significant value to our Company as we enter 2008.”

“I’m excited to join Hy-Drive to help the Company facilitate commercialization and growth of its hydrogen generating system technology,” stated Mr. Sorensen, “I look forward to building on the Company’s existing foundation at Hy-Drive and to advance the potential of generating solid returns for our shareholders”.

Pursuant to the Company’s stock option plan, and as part of Mr. Sorensen’s compensation package, he will be issued options to purchase 1,000,000 common shares at $1.00 per share which will vest in three different tranches over the next 18 months and expire ten years after the date of grant, with the second and third tranches becoming exercisable only if the company's share price reaches targets of $2.12 and $4.24 per share respectively.

About Hy-Drive

Hy-Drive is an energy technology firm that has developed a proprietary, patented hydrogen generating system. The Hy-Drive system generates and injects hydrogen gas into a regular internal combustion engine, enhancing the combustion process by allowing fuel to burn more efficiently and completely. For further information, visit www.hy-drive.com.

SPWR and MMA: build America's largest PV solar array at Nellis Air Force Base

2007-12-19T15:07:00.000-08:00

USA's Largest Solar Photovoltaic Energy System Takes Flight at Nellis Air Force Base

Public-Private Partnership Makes Solar Practical, Enhances Energy Independence, and Reduces CO2 Emissions by 24,000 Tons per Year

(CSRwire) LAS VEGAS, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today the U.S. Air Force celebrates the completion of North America's largest solar photovoltaic system at Nellis Air Force Base. A joint project of the U.S. Air Force, MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC (NYSE: MMA), SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR), and Nevada Power Company, the 14 megawatt Nellis solar energy system will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually and supply approximately 25 percent of the total power used at the base, where 12,000 people live and work.

Combining technology and systems expertise from SunPower Corporation and financing by MMA Renewable Ventures with discounted purchase commitments by the U.S. Air Force, the innovative Nellis solar energy system demonstrates that the U.S. government's goals for enhancing security through energy independence can be met both economically and practically when the public and private sectors work together.

SunPower Corporation designed and built the photovoltaic power plant using its proprietary single-axis SunPower(R) T20 Tracker solar tracking system which follows the sun throughout the day and delivers up to 30 percent more energy than traditional fixed-tilt ground systems.

Equally innovative is the funding and ownership of the landmark solar energy system: MMA Renewable Ventures, LLC has financed and will operate the solar power plant, selling electricity to Nellis Air Force Base at a guaranteed fixed rate for the next 20 years. Nevada Power will support the project by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by the solar array. MMA Renewable Ventures closed a fund for the system earlier this year with financing commitments from Citi, Allstate, and John Hancock Financial Services, with Merrill Lynch providing construction financing.

Dignitaries such as Air Force Assistant Secretary William Anderson and Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons will flip a switch marking full operation of the system at a ceremony to be held today at the Nellis base. A team including MMA Renewable Ventures, SunPower Corporation, and Nevada Power Company will join public officials in recognizing the United States Air Force for its commitment to national security, energy independence and environmental sustainability.

"This solar project at Nellis is a first step of many toward making renewable electricity integral to the operations of the U.S. Air Force," said Assistant Secretary Anderson. "As the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, the Air Force is well-positioned to promote both solar technology and new approaches to its implementation. This pioneering initiative is a good example of how a creative approach to public-private partnership can make our energy supply more sustainable, more secure and more affordable."

"The best way to secure a healthy and prosperous economy is to develop our affordable, reliable local resources," said Governor Gibbons. "With these 14 megawatts, Nellis Air Force Base is leading the country in solar energy deployment, a move that is good for the environment and our nation's energy security alike."

Covering 140 acres of land at the western edge of the Nellis base, the photovoltaic system comprises 72,000 solar panels using the SunPower Tracker technology. The energy generated will support over 12,000 military and civilians at Nellis who are responsible for Air Force advanced combat training, tactics development and operational testing.

"We are faced with an incredible opportunity to promote U.S. energy security by developing our own abundant domestic resources," said United States Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada. "Nevada and the United States have the technology and natural resources to serve our growing power demand with clean, renewable energy. I congratulate the Air Force for its continued leadership on clean power."

"Nellis, the 'Home of the Fighter Pilot,' is now home to the largest solar electric power plant in all of North America," said Colonel Michael Bartley, Nellis Air Force Base commander. "Our base and indeed our entire nation will benefit from the predictable, secure supply of clean energy that this landmark power plant is now generating. The project also provides a future test bed for the Department of Defense to assess the benefits of similar arrangements on installations across the United States."

"The Nellis project is a powerful demonstration of the U.S. Air Force's ability to execute on its aggressive goals for clean energy. From early concept through today's dedication, the Air Force collaborated closely with the strong coalition of partners instrumental in making this grand vision for solar a reality, and we look forward to maintaining that solid relationship over the long life of this clean energy system," said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. "The Nellis project further demonstrates how public-private partnership coupled with an innovative approach to third-party finance can make solar an affordable solution at even the largest scale."

"We congratulate the Air Force for having the vision to make solar power a mainstream energy source, and for hosting the largest solar photovoltaic system in the nation," said Tom Werner, CEO of SunPower. "Solar power is the fastest growing energy resource to help meet our escalating power demand, generating reliable, affordable power without creating emissions or waste. Nellis' decision to maximize the size and efficiency of its solar system underscores its commitment to secure energy and environmental preservation. We are proud that SunPower was selected by the Air Force to design, supply, and build this hallmark project."

"Working with partners, such as Nellis Air Force Base, to develop and generate solar energy projects is part of our strategy of providing clean, safe, reliable electricity to our customers at reasonable and predictable prices," said Michael Yackira, chief executive officer of Sierra Pacific Resources, parent company of Nevada Power. "Now that the Nellis solar energy system is on-line, the state of Nevada will be number one in the United States in solar generation per capita. We plan to expand our investments in renewable energy in order to increase the leadership position our company already has in renewable energy nationwide."

About Nellis Air Force Base

Nellis Air Force Base is called the "Home of the Fighter Pilot," and for good reason as Nellis is home of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center. With five wings and more than 150 aircraft, the Warfare Center is responsible for advanced combat training, tactics development and operational testing. The Center also conducts worldwide combat operations with the Predator unmanned aerial vehicle. More information about Nellis is on the Web at http://www.nellis.af.mil.

About MMA Renewable Ventures

A subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC "MuniMae," (NYSE: MMA), MMA Renewable Ventures finances, owns and operates renewable energy and energy efficiency assets in the United States. The Company provides leases, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and other customized financial solutions to help its customers manage energy costs. MMA Renewable Ventures is dedicated to delivering competitively priced, clean energy and energy savings to customers, strong partnership options for project developers, and exceptional opportunities for institutional investment in the clean energy sector. For more information about MMA Renewable Ventures, visit http://www.mmarenewableventures.com.

About SunPower

SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWR) designs, manufactures and delivers high-performance solar electric systems worldwide for residential, commercial and utility-scale power plant customers. SunPower high-efficiency solar cells and solar panels generate up to 50 percent more power than conventional solar technologies and have a uniquely attractive, all-black appearance. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.sunpowercorp.com. SunPower is a majority-owned subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corp.
(NYSE: CY).

About Nevada Power Company

Nevada Power Company is a regulated public utility engaged in the distribution, transmission, generation, purchase and sale of electric energy in the southern Nevada communities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson, Searchlight, Laughlin and their adjoining areas. The Company also provides electricity to Nellis Air Force Base, the Department of Energy at Mercury and Jackass Flats at the Nevada Test Site. Nevada Power Company provides electricity to approximately 815,000 residential and business customers in a 4,500 square mile service area.

Headquartered in Nevada, Sierra Pacific Resources (NYSE: SRP) is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries are Nevada Power Company, the electric utility for most of southern Nevada, and Sierra Pacific Power Company, the electric utility for most of northern Nevada and the Lake Tahoe area of California. Sierra Pacific Power Company also distributes natural gas in the Reno-Sparks area of northern Nevada.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements are statements that do not represent historical facts. We use words such as "will" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, our plans and expectations regarding reducing CO2 emissions by 24,000 tons annually, generating more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, and supplying approximately 25% of the total power used by nearly 12,000 people who live and work at the base. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this release and current expectations, forecasts and assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include a variety of factors, some of which are beyond our control. In particular, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ include variations in carbon dioxide emissions reductions, actual electricity generation, actual energy consumption rate, and other risks described in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date, and we are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any responsibility to, update or alter our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

China's Goldwind Sci & Tech IPO hoping for success like Suzlon, Vestas

2007-12-14T18:25:00.000-08:00

Goldwind IPO as China seeks 120,000 megawatts of windpower

Goldwind Plans IPO as China Combats Climate Change (Update2)

By Ying Lou

Dec. 13 (Bloomberg) -- Goldwind Science & Technology Co., China's largest maker of wind turbines, plans to raise 1.8 billion yuan ($244 million) in an initial share sale to boost output as the country seeks to reduce its reliance on coal.

Goldwind will sell 50 million shares at 36 yuan apiece, the Xinjiang-based company said in a statement to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. can buy the stock today and tomorrow, and it will start trading ``soon'' after the sale, Goldwind said.

Chinese officials at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Indonesia are showcasing their government's efforts to curb emissions of gases that cause global warming. The nation's climate-change program sets a target to slash 950 million tons off greenhouse emissions by 2010 by using nuclear energy, biomass fuels, hydropower, gas and wind power.

``China is already the world's factory,'' Yang Ailun, climate change program manager at Greenpeace China, said in an interview in Bali, Indonesia on Dec. 11. ``It could be and should be the manufacturing hub of clean technology for the world as well.''

The nation wants to reduce a reliance on coal for almost 80 percent of the electricity used in the world's fastest-growing economy. China passed the U.S. last year to become the world's largest source of carbon dioxide gas, from burning fossil fuels and producing cement, according to the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency.

`First Mover Advantage'

The share sale will help fund Goldwind's plan to spend about 1.9 billion yuan to expand capacity and on research and development, according to a Dec. 6 share sale document.

``As China's wind power sector takes off, we think Goldwind is well-positioned to become a major beneficiary, thanks to its strong brand and first-mover advantage,'' KGI Securities analyst Steven Liao wrote in a Dec. 12 report. ``We think Goldwind is an attractive investment target,'' Taipei-based Liao said. Goldwind has a 33 percent share of China's wind-power equipment market, according to KGI.

China became the world's sixth-largest wind power generator last year, with 2,604 megawatts of installed capacity, according to KGI. Capacity is forecast increase by 54 percent in the five years ending 2010, the fastest pace in the world.

A megawatt of wind power generating capacity produces about as much electricity as 225 to 300 U.S. households use in a year, according to the American Wind Energy Association.

Three Gorges

China may have installed wind power generation capacity of 120 gigawatts by 2020, given state backing for such projects, Greenpeace's Yang said.

``The power generated from the wind generation units will be the equivalent of five Three Gorges projects,'' Yang said. The Three Gorges Dam, on China's Yangtze River, is the world's largest hydropower venture, with planned capacity of 18,200 megawatts.

The project, in the central province of Hubei, can generate 84.7 million megawatt-hours of power annually, equal to 10 nuclear reactors, and is due for completion in 2009.

Liao estimates Goldwind's 2007 sales at 3.2 billion yuan and 7.2 billion yuan in 2008.

Vestas Wind Systems A/S, based in Randers, Denmark, is the world's largest maker of wind-powered turbines and forecasts sales of 3.85 billion euros ($5.67 billion) this year.

Suzlon's Sales

India's Suzlon Energy Ltd., which aims to be the world's third-largest wind power company by 2010, may have sales of $3.31 billion in the 12 months ending March 2008, according to the average estimate of 14 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

China wants renewable energy make up 10 percent of its total energy consumption by 2010 and 15 percent by 2020 from about 8 percent now. China will spend 1.5 trillion yuan by 2020 to develop renewable energy sources including solar, wind and biomass.

China's investment on renewable energy will reach $20 billion this year, Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, said yesterday at the UN conference in Bali.

Environment ministers from more than 180 countries are meeting in Bali to discuss an agreement to succeed the emissions-limiting Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012.

full article at:

Goldwind IPO article on Bloomberg.com; windpower stock news

California's SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) buying Italy's Solar Solutions

2007-12-14T18:16:00.000-08:00

SunPower to buy Italian solar company
article from East Bay Business Times

SunPower Corp. said Thursday it agreed to acquire Solar Solutions for an undisclosed amount.

San Jose-based SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) is a maker of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems.

Faenza, Italy-based Solar Solutions is a solar systems integration and product distribution company that is a 14-person division of Combigas s.r.l., a petroleum products trading firm.

The acquisition is expected close in the first quarter of 2008.

SunPower bought Berkeley-based PowerLight Corp., a maker of large-scale residential and commercial solar power systems, in January for $330 million. The Berkeley company now operates as a subsidiary of SunPower: SunPower Corp., Systems.

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SunPower (SPWR) news: takeover of Italian solar energy company Solar Solutions