Pope Benedict XVI was a moral and religious leader, but there's also a fiscal side to his legacy: He endorsed several positions that could affect the personal finances of millions of people. Here are five ways his papacy may impact our lives and pocketbooks.
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 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 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.
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 big solar panel installer has announced its second East Coast deal in a month: It's buying the residential solar business of Vermont-based groSolar, after picking up Maryland's Clean Currents. And SolarCity isn't the only West Coast solar player heading East for growth.
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?
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.
Applied Materials, the world's largest maker of computer-chip-manufacturing equipment, says its profit for its fiscal fourth quarter more than tripled from the same period a year ago.
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.
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.
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.
Applied Materials is cutting its SunFab line of equipment to make amorphous-silicon solar panels. The move marks the end of the semiconductor-equipment giant's big thin-film solar ambitions. What's next for AMAT?
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.