An increasing number of businesses want to be seen as green; go figure. The demand for renewable energy is predominantly driven by mandatory targets such as renewable portfolio standards (RPS) in the US, lucrative feed-in-tariffs (FITs) in Europe, or other requirements such as renewable fuel obligations in the UK. Subsidies such as production tax credits (PTCs) are among… Keep reading →
Investors are abandoning the solar manufacturing sector, but the solar game is far from over, according to one analyst. “There will be a resurgence” of solar after a manufacturing shakeout, Jason Channell, director of investment research and analysis at Citigroup, told CNBC. But “we think the next boom is coming from the storage area,” he… Keep reading →
What’s the value of a home that can fine-tune EV charging in the garage, solar panels on the roof, appliances in the kitchen and thermostats on the wall to maximize its energy profile?
Ford Motor Co., SunPower and Whirlpool say it’s significant, at least according to a new computer model they’ve developed with the Georgia Institute of Technology. And while they haven’t launched any commercial offerings on this front yet, Ford has already developed a database of EV charging rates from utilities across the country to give each home system some grid-pertinent data to make decisions with — and a cloud-based management platform to control it all. Keep reading →
California has already been leading the country in solar developments as it races towards its goal of 30% renewable power by 2020.
On Monday, yet another solar plant was added to the mix in San Bernardino County. Spain’s Abengoa Solar announced that construction was in full force for its newest 280 MW CSP Mojave Solar project that just signed a power purchase agreement with PG&E. Keep reading →
A spate of bankruptcies in US solar manufacturers is not a sign of imminent industry collapse, but the inevitable result of competition in a new and evolving market, according to industry representatives.
Solar manufacturer Solyndra announced its intention to file for bankruptcy on the final day of August, following bankruptcy filings by Evergreen Solar on August 15 and SpectraWatt on August 19. The three firms’ failures prompted a flurry of commentary about the challenges facing US solar manufacturing, and prospects for the sector’s survival. Keep reading →
All hopes have been dashed that a settlement to the debt crisis, which plagued American politics and global markets through the final weeks of July, would result in smooth sailing through August.
Prices for energy commodities were whipsawed amid wild volatility as indicators for the broader economy showed signs of weakening even as Congress finally signed a debt deal. Oil prices, so often a proxy for the broader energy sector, fell sharply on August 8. Keep reading →
As prices for individual photovoltaic (PV) panels fall and company revenue numbers drop, solar power may be facing a long and difficult transition on the path towards grid parity.
Released Tuesday morning, SunPower’s second quarter 2011 results illustrate the broader struggles that is many of the players in the global solar business. The company lost $147.9 million for the quarter, as compared with only a $2.1 million loss the in the first quarter of 2011 and a $6.2 loss million in the second quarter of 2010. Keep reading →
Market conditions and resource availability matter more for attracting investment from major oil companies in renewable energy than government incentive programs.
As major oil companies strengthen their renewable energy portfolios, many point to government incentives as critical to advancements in renewable energy and CO2 emissions-reduction. But local market conditions and resource availability, both of which are vital for long-term viability, are also vital for attracting a share of their capital budgets. Keep reading →
Jared Anderson
Conway Irwin
Peter Gardett