Solar Stocks Earnings
In the news:
Solar Industry Earnings Will Disappoint (FSLR, SPWRA, ENER, CSIQ, ESLR)Deutsche Bank solar analyst Steve O'Rourke is warning clients to watch out for weak Q2 results in the solar industry.
Module shipments and installations are up, but not in line with what many people are expecting. The continued drop in module prices, as well as limited availability to credit are going to weigh on solar earnings. O'Rourke sees write downs in inventory and receivables.
The second half of the year will be better, but not be good enough to match guidance provided by most solar companies. So, watch out for lowered guidance numbers. Also, he warns that margins and profits will be squeezed.
SourceLabels: Earnings, solar, solarstocks
JA Solar Loses Earnings Power
China-based JA Solar Holdings Co., Ltd. (JASO - Analyst Report) announced disappointing financial results for its 1st quarter of 2009 ended March 31, 2009.
Revenue in the reported quarter was $33.9 million, a decrease of 79.4% from $164.2 million in the comparable prior year 1st quarter of 2008, and a decrease of 76.3% from $143.3 million reported for the sequential 4th quarter of 2008.
Likewise, total gross loss in the reported quarter was $20.9 million, significantly down compared to a gross profit of $34.5 million in the year ago 1st quarter of 2008, and gross profit of $1.4 million in the sequential 4th quarter of 2008.
SourceLabels: Earnings, JA Solar Holdings Co., JASO, Ltd., solar, Solar Technology, solarstocks
Pioneering a 100% Solar City
FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL) to Set up U.S. a Pioneering 100% Solar CityElectricity utility Florida Power & Light (FPL) Group, Inc. (NYSE: FPL, FPL message board), last week said that it has agreed with the real estate investment company Kitson & Partners, to emulate the City of Masdar’s revolutionary concept of future urban development, by constructing America’s only carbon-neutral and zero-waste city in the “sunshine state” of Florida. FPL is expected to construct a 75 percent-megawatt photovoltaic solar power facility that will power the $2 billion-Babcock Ranch city to be laid on a 17,000 acre land which was purchased by Kitson & Partners as an environmentally sensitive domain for conservation three years ago.
Beginning of the year, Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company of the United Arab Emirates announced the construction of Masdar City which then was said to be the world’s only eco-city. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) and Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) won the tenders to supply 5 megawatts of thin film solar modules each for the power generation facility which will be utilised by an excess of 50,000 residents and 1,500 corporations when the city is completed.
FPL said their solar power plant will single-handedly be responsible for powering the futuristic Babcock Ranch city’s anticipated 19,500 residences, and various businesses and light industries that will be scattered within a space of 6 million square feet. 20,000 green jobs are also expected to be brought forth as from 2010, when the construction of the infrastructure is scheduled to take off, until when it becomes fully operational.
SourceLabels: First Solar Inc, FPL, FPL Group, FSLR, News, solar, solarstocks, STP, Suntech Power
First Solar Leading Solar Stock Rally
Some news from Business Insider:
Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association reported that solar capacity grew by 17% in 2008, which is good (but old) news. The president of the group also said that solar wasn't immune to the downturn--which is also old news. Solar companies have been turning in crappy quarters left and right lately.
It doesn't seem to matter today. First Solar (FSLR) is up $5 at this point, Solar ETF TAN is up 7% and SunPower (SPWRA) and JA Solar (JASO) are both up 10%.
The pop could be driven by a rumor we heard on Fast Money last night that First Solar might be added to the S&P 500.
SourceLabels: First Solar Inc, FSLR, JASO, solar, solarstocks, SPWR, TAN
Stimulus Plan is a Ray of Sunshine for Solar Industry
TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The solar industry was moving at a frantic pace through the end of 2008 in an effort to capture the solar tax credits that were set to expire at years end. Global demand for solar hit a whopping 5.3 GW and saw the price of silicon skyrocket and solar panels became very scarce. Citigroup's (NYSE:C) Timothy Arcuri in a recent research note observed that, "Global demand for solar is likely to see a slight decrease to 5 GW, but driven by a growing pipeline of utility scale projects and aided by government stimulus programs, he thinks the total will jump up to 7.6 GW next year and 9.6 GW in 2011."
SourceLabels: News, solar, Solar Funding, solar panels
Marketing Solar Panels to Fifth-Graders
Employees of the Sharp Electronics Corporation were at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School in Mahwah, N.J., recently to teach a lesson on climate change and renewable energy. The cartoon image of an ailing Earth — a thermometer sticking out of its mouth — was the opening slide in their presentation.
Climate change and energy are complex issues, so I was interested to observe how they would be distilled by the Japanese electronics giant — and one of the world’s largest makers of solar panels — to an audience of 10 and 11-year-olds. I recently sat in the back of a fifth-grade class and listened in.
Source:
NY Green Inc. BlogLabels: Sharp, solar, Solar Energy, Solar power
Vatican unveils ambitious solar energy plans
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifVATICAN CITY (Reuters) - And then there was light -- and it was powered by the sun. The Vatican on Wednesday activated a new solar energy system and announced an ambitious plan that could one day make it an alternative energy exporter.
The massive roof of the "Nervi Hall" where popes hold general audiences and concerts are performed, has been covered with 2,400 photovoltaic panels to provide energy for lighting, heat and air conditioning.
...
The 1.2 million euro ($1.6 million) system, devised and donated by German companies SolarWorld and SMA Solar Technology, will allow the 108-acre city-state to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by about 225 tons and save the equivalent of 80 tons of oil each year.
Source:
ReutersLabels: solar, Solar Energy, solar panels
European Project Breaks Efficiency Record, 39,7%
ScienceDaily (Nov. 21, 2008) — Scientists of the Commission-financed project FULLSPECTRUM have developed photovoltaic (PV) multi-junction (MJ) solar cells which are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity. This is the highest percentage ever reached in Europe, according to researchers after their final workshop today in El Escorial, Spain.
Let's hope that the higher efficiency of these cells don't come with a much higher price, since what really matters is the price/efficiency ratio.
Today conventional PV cells made of silicon are converting solar light at around 17%.
Labels: News, solar, Solar Energy, solar panels
Spray-on solar cells
An inch-long array of some of the tiniest solar cells ever built has been successfully tested as a power source for microscopic machines, a new study reports.
Xiaomei Jiang of the University of South Florida and her colleagues needed a power source for a microscopic sensor that can detect dangerous chemicals and toxins, potentially helping to sniff out chemical leaks. So the team turned to solar cells.
But these aren't the traditional solar cells that you see perched on rooftops. Most solar cells in use now have a brittle backing made of silicon (found in sand, and the same material computer chips are made with).
Check the full article
hereLabels: solar, solar cells, solar spray
Ota Solar City in Japan
By Mayumi Negishi
OTA, Japan (Reuters) - Solar panels glisten across Ota City's tiny Pal Town neighbourhood, nestled among strawberry fields in one of Japan's sunniest spots, a testament to the allure of renewable energy in this resource-poor country.
Three-quarters of Pal Town's homes are covered by solar panels, which are distributed for free and have become one of the main draw-cards for residents keen to minimise their power bills.
A great example for other countries to follow, even in a country were the sun doesn't most of the year. Mediterranean Europe and the south states of USA are the perfect locations for this model city to be built.
Full news article at
ReutersLabels: home solar panels, Japan, solar, Solar Energy, solar panels, Solar Projects
Google-Backed Solar Startup Picks Up Steam, $130 Million
In Wired.com :
Rising oil prices lift all alt-energy boats.
For proof, look no further than the fat $130 million investment scooped up by eSolar, a company whose basic solar power strategy -- using sunlight-reflecting mirrors to generate steam -- was all but abandoned in the 1980s, and has recently recently caught investors' attention again.
The money, from Google's philanthropic arm, Google.org, and venture capital firms Idealab and Oak Investment Partners, will go towards the construction of eSolar's first functioning solar power plant.
Read it hereLabels: Google, solar, Solar Energy, solar fund
Solar Gigabucks
Two new articles at Wired.com check them out:
Solar Goes From Gardens to GigabucksFREMONT, California -- Solar cells have been converting sunlight into electricity for years, but scientists have been much less successful at turning that technology into money.
Now, in a staid Bay Area office park, a converted hard-drive factory with a shiny new façade has begun churning out unconventional solar tubes that could change the economics of solar power.
Read the rest
hereLabels: CIGS, solar, Solar Energy Products, Solar power, wired
Jim Cramer Bullish on First Solar
First Solar, Inc. (NDAQ: FSLR) shares edged higher in pre-market trading after CNBC's Jim Cramer revealed his bullish sentiment on the stock Monday. The solar manufacturer is admitedly one of the most expensive stocks in the industry, but the television star believes that earnings momentum will continue to propel its lofty valuation. However, Cramer recommended that investors wait to get in at a lower price.
http://investerms.com/top_news/375.html
Labels: Bullish, Cramer, First Solar, FSLR, Jim Cramer, solar
Solarfun (SOLF) up on the Pre-Market
Solarfun Power Holdings (SOLF) is up 10% on the Pre-Market, with earnings coming this week, May 21 before the opening bell.
SOLF is one of the top performers in the latest week, and seems to be recovering from a downward trend since the beginning of the year.
A solarstock to watch this week for sure:
Labels: Earnings, Power, premarket, solar, Solarfun, solarstock, solarstocks, SOLF, Stocks
Canadian Solar Inc. Earnings
CSIQ is soaring 28.5% up for today. I will post the charts later, since most of the solar companies I use to track are having a very good day.
Canadian Solar Q1 profit tops estimates, shares soarChina's Canadian Solar Inc (CSIQ.O: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a first-quarter profit that topped Wall Street estimates, helped by higher market demand, strong pricing and effective foreign exchange exposure management, and forecast second-quarter revenue above the market view.
Shares of the company soared more than 28 percent to an all-time high of $43.82 in midday trade, making them one of the top percentage gainers on Nasdaq.
Labels: canadian, CSIQ, Earnings, soaring, solar
Canadian Solar Inc. at new highs
Canadian Solar Inc (NASDAQ:CSIQ) was touching new historical highs last week, recovering from a long correction since the beginning of the year.
With other titles like FSLR, CSIQ has one of the best bullish trends, but expect some resistance at this levels.
CSIQ will hold a conference call on Tuesday, May 13 at 8:00 am to reveal its quarter earnings for 2008.
Many solar energy stocks are swinging up with the Crude Oil reaching new highs, above $121, and expect many stocks in the industry to start catching up, after the last Bear rally putting some companies in a very attractive position.
Labels: Canadian Solar, CSIQ, Earnings, FSLR, historical highs, solar, Solar Stocks, solarstocks, stock
