In an article released this morning entitled "Nightfall Comes To Solar Land," Bill Alpert of Barron’s predicts that the massive drop in silicon prices over the past year, combined with cooling demand for solar energy, will have a negative impact on the solar industry in general, particularly thin-film manufacturers like First Solar (FSLR) and Energy Conversion Devices (ENER). These two companies based their business models on a market in which there was not enough … Read the rest
All posts by Tate Dwinnell
GE Capital (GE) Invests In Tesla
According to Jay Yarow at CNNMoney.com, GE Capital is investing in Tesla Motors. The article quotes the contents of a leaked interview in which Tesla CEO Elon Musk tells Car and Driver:
We’ve raised around $40 million, and a bit of news that hasn’t come out yet [is] General Electric is investing in Tesla. [GE Capital] will be the second-largest investor in this round, after me. Our business plan that we presented to investors gets … Read the rest
SunTech (STP) Boosts Conversion Efficiencies
Suntech Power Holdings Limited just announced that their Pluto technology has enabled the company to boost its conversion efficiency by 2.5 percentage points on monocrystalline PV cells and 1.5 percentage points on multicrystalline PV cells. Suntech is now able to produce monocrystalline PV cells with 19% conversion efficiency and multicrystalline cells with 17% conversion efficiency.
This is good news, a TradingMarkets.com explains:
The big improvement in the conversion efficiency will help the solar cell producer … Read the rest
Applied Materials (AMAT) To Collaborate With DISCO Corporation On Wafer Thinning Technology
Applied Materials just announced a collaboration with DISCO Corp to develop wafer thinning processes for manufacturing through-silicon vias in 3-dimensional semiconductors. The companies will combine respective skills to develop standardized processing procedures to lower the cost, reduce the risk and increase the speed of manufacturing next-generation through-silicon via chips.
From a company press release, here’s more about the technical side of the process, what each company will bring to the collaboration, and why it is … Read the rest
2010 Chevy Volt Test Fleet Coming June 1st?
The 2010 Chevy Volt continues to make progress on its targeted production date of November 2010. According to the blog www.gm-volt.com (which is no way affiliated with GM), the Volt’s lead engineer Andrew Farah has a countdown clock in his office revealing that on June 1st the assembly of the first Volt will take place. Apparently they will be built at a rate of about 10 per week until a fleet of 80 is achieved … Read the rest
First Solar (FSLR) Downgraded From Buy To Hold by Collins Stewart
According to StreetInsider.com, Collins Stewart is downgrading FSLR this morning to Hold from Buy. It’s basically a valuation call after a big run in the stock. They said…
“Due to the price increase seen in recent sessions, FSLR has reached a point where we find the risk/reward more balanced for investors. With yesterday’s rally, the shares are now within 16% of our $175 price target and trading at 22.5x our FY09 EPS forecast of … Read the rest
More Details On China Solar Policy From Friedman Billings Ramsey
A hat tip to StreetInsider.com for these notes from Friedman Billings & Ramsey regarding China’s solar policy. As you probably know the solars took off in a big yesterday, particularly the big China plays such as Suntech (STP) and Trina Solar (TSL). They ran on a report that China would be supportive of local solar development and offer subsidies but details have been fuzzy.
After some extensive checks with their contacts in China, FBR is … Read the rest
Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF) Hosts Royal Groundbreaking Ceremony For CO Turbine Plants
On Wednesday, Vestas Wind Systems broke ground on two wind turbine manufacturing plants in Brighton, Colorado. Once completed in 2010, the plants will employ 1,350 people. Vestas is building a wind turbine blade factory as well as a nacelle assembly plant. In addition to these facilities in Brighton, Vestas also plans to build a plant in Pueblo to make wind turbine towers.
Crown Prince Frederik André Henrik Christian and Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth attended the … Read the rest
Converted Organics’ (COIN) Sutton, MA Food Waste Processing Facility Is Approved
Converted Organics just announced that it has received a permit from the MA Department of Environmental Protection for its Sutton, MA food waste processing facility. Like Converted Organic’s facility in Woodbridge, New Jersey, this facility will turn food waste into fertilizer for plants.
In a company press release, Edward J. Gildea, President of Converted Organics, explained the significance of the permit:
“The development of a Converted Organics food waste processing facility in Sutton, Massachusetts … Read the rest
China Solar Energy Stocks Soar On DigiTimes Report That China Will Support Local Development
Can you say short squeeze! Wow, what a move in the China solars today. Looking at the board to my left, both TSL and STP are up over 50% and some of the other China solars are up anywhere from 20 – 40%. It’s hard to believe that an article speculating that the China government will be supportive of local solar development would cause a move of this magnitude but when you consider the amount … Read the rest