Renewable Energy Helps Fuel Dow Above 11,000
The benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above 11,000 for the first time since stock markets began their nosedive 18 months ago. And the rebound in investor and trader confidence seems to be taking renewable energy and clean technology stocks with it.
An uptick in the price of a barrel of oil, the coming 40th anniversary Earth Day celebrations and renewed focus on energy and climate legislation in Congress could once again be sparking market enthusiasm, at least for the short term, market watchers are speculating.
But the upturn could prove short-lived as some banks and investment firms remain wary of the sector's long-term performance, warning their clients of shrinking public support for subsidies and an end to government stimulus spending globally.
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Source: NYTimes
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readingLabels: Solar Market, Solar Stocks, Solar Technology
The Solar Holy Grail: Grid Parity
Latest developments on Solar Panel efficiency, and the ever shrinking costs of silicon and thin film solar panels will bring someday what is known as Grid Parity, a price barrier where Solar becomes as cheap as conventional fossil fuel sources of energy(mainly the coal and gas power plants)
Moore’s law does apply to solar panel technology and grid parity might be coming sooner than later.
Some recent articles commenting on these matters:
The Shining: Solar Power, Grid Parity, and the Cost of PowerClean energy has a holy grail—the day when the electricity produced by solar panels and the like can compete dollar-for-dollar with electricity churned out by traditional power plants.
That day is getting closer all the time. But as Lux Research notes today in a new report, so-called “grid parity” isn’t a done deal yet, and still depends on such fickle factors as the amount of sunlight hitting rooftops and political will to underwrite hefty subsidies for solar power.
The Lux report, “The Slow Dawn of Grid Parity,” stresses a few main points. Solar power is now measured by the cost of the electricity it produces, rather the cost of installing the stuff in the first place.
That makes a big difference for consumers, utilities, and investors, Lux says, since it makes it a lot easier to compare apples with apples. That’s because solar power (like wind) costs a lot upfront, but has free fuel—so it looks more attractive when measured by the electricity it actually produces.
WSJ BlogsThreat to Solar Market: Government Budget WoesGrid parity represents something of a Holy Grail for solar companies — a point where they can compete on cost with conventional fossil fuel sources of energy. The race for grid parity shifted into overdrive earlier this year as a heap of new funding and the extension of tax credits were approved as part of the stimulus package. According to a new report released today from Lux Research, certain types of solar installations are now on the verge of grid parity — especially in California — but accelerating progress toward that Holy Grail has in some ways never been more at risk.
ReutersLabels: Solar Energy, Solar Market, Solar News, solar panels, Solar power, Solar Stocks
US Solar Market
U.S. Solar Market: So Promising, Except for 2009
The United States could become the leading solar market one day, but it's likely to be Germany that saves the day for solar panel makers who have seen demand plummeted so far this year, analysts say.
Solar companies have pegged the United States as the market to conquer because of its size, but for 2009, it's likely to be Germany that will have the large appetite for the abundant supply of solar panels, analysts say.
The United States lags behind countries such as Germany, Spain and Japan in solar energy generation, but its size and an earnest push by federal and some states to promote more installations has made the U.S. a promising market. But not this year.
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Greentech MediaLabels: Solar Market, Solar News, Solar Stocks, Solar Technology, solarstocks
