The oil industry giants are embracing alternative technologies -- including biofuels, geothermal and solar. Right now, renewable sources provide only a tiny fraction of the profits they derive from oil and gas, but they'll have a real impact on the revenues of majors like BP, Exxon Mobil and Chevron in the not-so-distant future.
SunPower recently launched its SunPower E20 series of solar panels, the industry's first commercially available panels which provide a total area efficiency of more than 20%. That gives SunPower a significant competitive advantage over its competitors.
SunPower boasts of being able to manufacture the most efficient large-scale solar modules in the industry, and shipments of its residential and commercial components have been growing rapidly. Trefis predicts they'll keep growing, especially if federal policy shifts further in favor of solar.
Last week, President Obama outlined a new energy policy that aims to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil. How can patient investors capitalize on his vision?
Not everyone is focusing on the down side of Japan's triple disaster -- tsunami, earthquake and nuclear catastrophe. Warren Buffett, for one, has faith in Japan's economic prospects. The Nikkei surged as investors searched for bargains in the wreckage.
With oil prices soaring on the region's turmoil, alternative energy such as wind is again gaining attention. But wind technology hasn't been standing still: Its power output worldwide jumped by 22% last year. However, it's still nowhere near ready to compete with oil.
Yes, we've seen this movie before: As costly oil makes solar look good, investors pile in -- only to be let down when overcapacity sets in and oil prices tumble again. But this time, solar's rebound may be on somewhat firmer ground. Investors, though, still need to be cautious.
While more than three-quarters of Americans have a favorable impression of solar energy, very few have been willing to invest in the technology. Is this about to change?
It has become clear to politicians and scientists that corn-based ethanol isn't the solution for creating a home-grown fuel source. Enter "cellulosic ethanol," made from wood chips, weeds or algae. Could it be the fuel of the future?
China's plans to cut exports of rare earth minerals -- used in alternative energy technologies -- has the rest of the world scrambling. In the U.S., the country's first new rare-earth mine in more than a decade is set to reopen.
The Chinese maker of solar wafers, modules and cells reported third-quarter earnings that easily beat analyst estimates on strong demand and improved pricing environment. The company also raised its outlook much above expectations.
Looking for companies that are growing fast but still ignored by Wall Street? Hilary Kramer talks about two stocks here with great upside potential. One of them, she says, could even be a ten-bagger.
Oregon is the latest state to notch a big win in the effort to attract green jobs: Silicon Valley solar company Solexant has announced plans to build a large factory to produce thin-film solar panels near Portland. Oregon gets jobs; Solexant gets a $25 million loan and $18.75 million in tax credits.
As oil continues to gush into the Gulf of Mexico from BP's damaged well, the federal government is pouring a bit more money into alternative energy sources with a grant to groups working on turning algae into a commercially viable fuel.
