Raser Technologies just announced that its loan guarantee application has been cleared by the DOE and can move on to the next step in the due diligence process. If approved, the loan guarantees would finance 80% of a geothermal project near Raser’s existing Beaver Co facility, allowing the company to expand its geothermal capacity by 42 MW.
In a press release, Raser CEO Brent M. Cook said “This announcement from the DOE demonstrates that … Read the rest
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited just announced that it has signed a strategic sales agreement with Recurrent Energy. Per the agreement, Yingli will supply Recurrent with PV modules until 2012. Recurrent will use the modules in solar energy projects that are expected to range in size from 2 to 20 MW.
In a press release, executives from both companies commented on the deal:
"Today’s agreement further signifies our commitment to meeting the industry’s demand … Read the rest
Leave it up to a Chinese company to create jobs on US soil. I mentioned the Sunpower plans to outsource manufacturing to Jabil Circuit with operations in Mexico earlier. Trina Solar (TSL), a Chinese solar manufacturer is announcing expansion plans of its own as it continues to push into the US market, but unlike Sunpower, Trina will set up manufacturing in the US at the Port of Oakland this month in order to get product … Read the rest
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies just announced that its affiliate, Asola, has opened a new PV manufacturing facility in Erfurt, Germany. The new, state of the art plant will employ 130 workers and produce 32 MW of PV modules per year first. Later, it will expand to produce 45 MW annually.
In a press release, leaders from both companies commented on the new plant:
"With this new plant we underline our own exceptional growth path, … Read the rest
Sunpower (SPWRA) is announcing this morning that Jabil Circuit (JBL) will begin helping the company ramp up solar panel manufacturing for key North American markets and will build the panels in Mexico within a few months. It’s part of a long term strategy to improve customer service and reduce costs.
Jabil will also work with Sunpower in the Solar America Initiative (SAI), a US Dept of Energy program to accelerate the advancement of solar technologies. … Read the rest
Hoku Scientific (HOKU) is really surging today with heavy volume above the 200 day moving average for the first time in well over a year. I don’t see any news today, but the company did announce an economic development package (ie tax breaks) with the City of Pocatello of Idaho which we covered a few days ago. Perhaps an announcement is coming. Will update this post if I find anything. Some heavy selling pressure coming … Read the rest
Xcel Energy just announced a 3-year plan for conserving energy in its Minnesota service area. Through the plan, which includes items like conservation kits for low-income customers and incentives like rebates for customers who install solar panels, Xcel expects to cut expected demand by320 megawatts of power and 2.4 million dekatherms of natural gas during the 3-year span. This will eliminate the need for a medium-sized conventional power plant that would emit 1 million metric … Read the rest
Real Goods Solar just announced that the Fremont Union High School District has hired them to design and install 3.65 MW worth of solar power modules. The contract, which has a value of at least $30 million, is the largest purchase of solar power by a school district. The modules will be installed on carports at the schools, and are expected to save at least $12 million in power costs to the district over the … Read the rest
Valence Technology (VLNC) is still a develop stage company so its earnings reports aren’t too critical at this point. More important are the pieces being put in place now for revenues down the road and it appears the company is on that track. We’ve been covering those announcements here in the past few weeks. However, this is still a company probably a few years away from being profitable.
Last quarter the company lost .04/share which … Read the rest
According to Street Insider this morning, Deutsche Bank has initiated coverage on Quanta Services (PWR) with a Buy rating and price target of 28.
Deutsche analyst says, “Quanta, a leading specialty contractor servicing the electrical power market, is well positioned to benefit from the anticipated spike in transmission-related investment. To accommodate the rising mix of renewable energy, utilities and grid operators are increasingly turning to Quanta to help build transmission networks. With an attractive … Read the rest