Yesterday, Echelon (ELON) and ELO Sistemas Electronicos of Brazil announced an alliance to bring smart grid solutions to Latin America. ELO Sistemas is Brazil’s largest supplier of electronic meters and is a reseller of Echelon’s NES smart grid system. The announcement was made at the Smart Grid Latin America Forum in Brazil and is Echelon’s first foray into the Latin American region.
Last month Brazil announced tentative plans for a nationwide rollout of smart … Read the rest
Suntech just announced that it has begun construction on its 50 MW solar plant in Jiangsu, China. Suntech is working with Huadian New Energy Development Company to build the plant. The company will design the plant and install 37,000 of its own PV solar panels. Suntech will also own a minority stake in the plant once it is built.
The first, 10MW phase of the plant could be in operation later this year. … Read the rest
Piper Jaffray is downgrading GT Solar (SOLR) to Underweight and slashing the price target to $3 following the earnings report.
Hat tip to StreetInsider.com for the following comment:
“While we believe SOLR’s DSS furnace business is well positioned for a coming expansion cycle and possibly a replacement cycle as the company launches its 600KG furnace next year, we have major concerns on SOLR’s polysilicon equipment (CVD) backlog that bring us to downgrade the stock…We … Read the rest
JA Solar (JASO) smashed analyst estimates this morning and has posted the first quarterly profit in a year. The company reported an EPS of .10/share, .07/share better than Wall St estimates. Revenues also smashed estimates coming in at $193 million vs the Wall St estimate of $136 million. This is a big upside surprise out of JASO, but let’s put it in perspective a bit. The EPS number is still a 78% plunge from the … Read the rest
Advanced Battery Tech (ABAT) reported mixed results after the bell today and traders aren’t all that thrilled. The stock has taking a beating since the August high and it’s getting hit again after hours, down about 9%. The company reported an EPS number of .08/share which missed analyst estimates of .09/share and was flat from the year ago quarter despite a 40% increase in revenues.
I still like this company longer term and this pull … Read the rest
Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE) reported mixed results after the bell but managed to get back in the black for the first time in a few years, reporting a non GAAP .01/share profit. However, revenues were shy of analyst estimates at $31.2 million.
CEO Andrew Littlefair commented on the company’s future:
“As the economic and environmental benefits of natural gas are becoming more widely understood and well publicized, we have expanded our discussions to include a … Read the rest
Ener1 (HEV) is a late next year story, so earnings don’t mean too much right now, but the company did miss on both EPS and revenues after the bell today. The company reported a loss of .14/share (vs analyst estimates of a .10/share loss) on revenues of $8.1 million (vs analyst estimates of $9 million).
CEO Charles Gassenheimer focused on the future..
“Ener1 has seen a substantial uptick in customer inquiries over the past three … Read the rest
GT Solar (SOLR) reported mixed earnings results after the bell today with a miss on the EPS side (reporting .06/share vs estimates of .07/share) and a beat on the revenue side (reporting $104 million vs estimates of $101.8). EPS was off 68% from the year ago period, so certainly another solar company that is struggling to get growing again. The company isn’t expected to return to year over year growth until 2011.
The company has … Read the rest
Quantum Fuel Systems (QTWW) announced today they are developing and shipping six Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle (CERV) for the US Army designed for quick special ops missions. The vehicle uses Quantum’s Q-Force diesel hybrid electric powertrain system along with a weapons ring for greater fire power. Along with greater fuel efficiency, the vehicle will be able to maintain speeds of 80mph and ascend 60% grades. Is the bat mobile far off?
Alan Niedzwiecki, CEO of … Read the rest
Cree just announced that the company will be expanding its presence in China with a new manufacturing plant. Cree is purchasing a new 592,000 square foot facility in Huizhou, Guangdong Province, China. The facility will be used to produce chips (the first time Cree has produced chips overseas) and as a cornerstone for future expansion inside China.
In a press release, Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO, commented on the company’s plans:
“This investment … Read the rest