solar energy

SunPower Building America's Biggest Solar Roof

SunPower is on a roll: It just launch the most efficient mass-produced solar cell in the world and announced it will soon start construction of the biggest solar roof in North America. Is the market already too enthusiastic about the solar energy major, or is this a good time to buy?

LDK Solar Gets a Hand from Chinese Government

LDK Solar recently announced a $240 million investment by the China Development Bank, which gives it more breathing room to deal with its short-term debt situation. Right now, the market is pricing LDK at around $7 a share. Trefis thinks its worth $12. Wondering why? Read on ...

SunPower Holds the Lead in Solar Panel Efficiency

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.

A Hot Solar Stock: SunPower's Sales Have Far to Rise

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.

Is Concentrated Solar Technology Ready to Rise?

Research firm Strategy Analytics projects that global installations of concentrated photovoltaic technologies, which use lenses, mirrors or other optics to concentrate sunlight and direct it in to solar cells, will nearly triple every year for the next four years.

The Mideast's Favorable Breeze for Wind Power

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.

First Solar Forecasts
46% Higher Sales in 2011

First Solar, one of the world's biggest solar manufacturers, is looking toward 2011 with plenty of good cheer. According to its latest forecast, released Tuesday, the company expects sales to heat up some 46% in spite of lower subsidies in Germany, the world's largest solar market.

Earnings for China's LDK Solar Far Outshine Estimates

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.

Delayed and Shrinking: Masdar City Scales Back Its Clean-Energy Plans

Masdar, the $22 billion green city that United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi is building in the desert just outside its borders, has canceled its plans to generate all of its own clean energy and to emit zero carbon -- and says it's running at least four years behind schedule.

Obama Administration to Install Solar Panels on White House

Next spring, the First Family will begin to receive solar electricity and solar-heated water from a new solar system that will be installed on the roof of the White House as part of the Obama administration's effort to showcase American solar technology.

Sharp to Buy Solar Power Developer Recurrent Energy

Japanese electronics company Sharp is turning up the heat in the increasingly competitive solar energy market, announcing plans Wednesday to acquire solar energy producer Recurrent Energy in a cash deal worth upwards of $305 million.