Seven billion people will live and work in urban areas by 2050 and the demand for energy for all these people will be huge. Local production of energy will be needed with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) key to make cities at least partially self-sufficient with energy. Rapid development in thin film solar cell efficiency strengthens the… Keep reading →
Investments rose in the last quarter in the cleantech sector despite market volatility and the collapse of Solyndra, CEO of Cleantech Group said today.
Sheeraz Haji said that $2.23 billion in capital investments across 189 clean tech deals were made in the third quarter this year, a 12% increase from the last quarter, and a 23% in the same quarter last year. Keep reading →
Volatility in the overall financial markets have taken a heavy toll on clean tech companies with IPO ambitions, while valuations of publicly traded stocks had dropped dramatically by two thirds, investment bankers in the sector conceded this week.
Clean tech market sector capitalization was valued at $475 billion at the high point in 2007, said David Dolezal, head of the Americas Renewable Energy and Cleantech division at UBS, the largest trader of clean tech stocks. But that figure has now been slashed to $142 billion, the equivalent market capitalization of pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Keep reading →
Though GE is over 100 years old, it prides itself on keeping pace with innovation.
At a September 20 investor meeting, GE executives reviewed the company’s performance over the last few years and assessed where it is going. The company has a strong international portfolio and GE Power & Water is now generating 25% of the world’s electrical generation according to Steve Bolze, GE Senior Vice President and GE Power & Water President and CEO. Keep reading →
Though prices for solar panels are continuing to drop, the US government is bolstering the industry with another slew of loan guarantees.
On Friday, the Department of Energy announced $197 million in loan guarantees for SoloPower, a San Jose-based solar photovoltaic panels manufacturer that specializes in flexible ultra thin film solar cells. The guarantee will support construction and operation of three new solar farms that will produce approximately 400 MW in total. Keep reading →
The US Department of Energy may have chosen a winner in the renewable energy race.
It will be offering nearly $4.5 billion in conditional loan guarantee commitments for three solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in California, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced today. The projects include a $680 million 230 MW Antelope Valley Solar Ranch 1 project, a $1.88 billion 550 MW Desert Sunlight project and a $1.93 550 MW billion Topaz Solar project, all being built by First Solar with Cd-Te thin film solar PV panels. Keep reading →
Thin Film Solar Cell Industry in Transition: Knockout Phase is Over – Profitability and Vertical Integration Next
By Sven LindströmPrices of solar cells and solar panels have fallen dramatically over the last few years. This (and state subsidies) has been good for the advancement of this amazing renewable energy source, and solar energy can today be seen as an established energy source, reliable and well distributed, cost competitive with traditional non-renewable energy sources and… Keep reading →