Posted Jun 30th 2009 6:30PM by James Cullen
Filed under: Wells Fargo (WFC), Green Stocks
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and solar technology company SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWRA) teamed up today with an agreement for Wells to finance up to $100 million in new solar energy systems. SunPower will create agreements with end power users and handle operational issues, and Wells will finance and retain ownership of the systems, according to a pair of press releases from the two companies.
The Business Insider says that a research note from FBR Capital says this amount will allow SunPower to add about 20-25 MW of capacity, and that pricing for the solar power will be at competitive rates of under $0.15/kwh. The overall effect on earnings is expected to be immaterial. The average estimate for EPS for the 2009 fiscal year is $1.07, but with a wide range of $0.03 to $1.48. EPS last year was $2.28.
Continue reading Wells Fargo to finance up to $100 million in new SunPower plants
Posted Jun 10th 2009 12:45PM by Tom Johansmeyer
Filed under: Deals, Private equity, Technology, Green Stocks
We're still in the early stages of this trend, but it's pretty clear that the green energy sector is fast becoming a venture capital darling. Today, for example, five deals were announced in one publication alone (three VC, two acquisitions). The three investments account for $47.4 million in VC investment. And only yesterday, Solazyme picked up another $57 million in its Series C round.
In what remains a capital-constrained market, the cash is still flowing. In the private equity space, investments in clean technologies have remained steady from 2007 to 2008, despite broader economic calamity. Such commitment this early in the game may hint at what the next bubble will be.
Continue reading Green VC deals continue to mount, next bubble?
Posted Jun 9th 2009 5:50PM by Jim Woods
Filed under: Earnings reports, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks
When Charles Dickens wrote, "Bring in the bottled lightning, a clean tumbler and a corkscrew," it's safe to say the great English novelist wasn't referring to energy technology. But in the 21st century we know that a whole lot of bottled lightning can be uncorked using a variety of sophisticated devices -- and one of the most interesting types is fuel cells.
Today we got lightning news from one of the best companies in the fuel cell space, the aptly named FuelCell Energy (NASDAQ: FCEL). Although the company reported lower product sales and revenues for fiscal Q2 of $19.3 million compared to $26.4 million in fiscal Q2 a year ago, it did say that the prior year product sales and revenues were unusually high due to timing.
Continue reading FuelCell Energy: Bring on the bottled lightning
Posted Jun 9th 2009 12:30PM by Tom Johansmeyer
Filed under: Private equity, Green Stocks
Venture capital firms Braemar Energy Ventures and Lightspeed Venture partners led the Series C round for Solazyme, Inc., putting $57 million in fresh capital into the company. This brings total outside financing to above $76 million for the algae-derived biofuels company ... and shows yet another sign of life for private investment in green technology.
Solazyme uses microalgae biotechnology for the production of clean fuels, green chemicals, edible oils, and wellness products. The company seeks to "answer the increasing global demand for clean and renewable sources of oil" through sustainable and scalable technologies. The company's renewable oil production process relies on industrial fermentation, in which the algae consume nonfood biomass and industrial byproducts, which the algae converts to oil. End products include renewable diesel, biodiesel, and jet fuel.
Continue reading VC firms look to make green on green with $57m play for Solazyme
Posted Jun 9th 2009 10:50AM by Steven Halpern
Filed under: Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Obama Picks
"Itron (NASDAQ: ITRI), which is involved in the build-out of smart grids -- has been our radar screen for awhile," says growth stock expert Toby Smith.
In his ChangeWave Investing, he suggests, "As the top supplier of smart meters and meter infrastructure for the electricity industry, Itron is by far the best-positioned company for the smart grid build-out."
"The build-out of smart grids employs technologies that deployed across an energy grid which allow greater efficiency and flexibility during energy distribution and transmission.
"The cool thing about smart grids is that they are capable of isolating and better managing power outages and disruptions, integrating local power generating equipment, and avoiding electricity congestion or bottlenecks.
Continue reading Itron (ITRI): Smart grids, smart meters
Posted Jun 5th 2009 12:50PM by Tom Johansmeyer
Filed under: China, Brazil, Private equity, Technology, Green Stocks
Investments in clean energy projects and companies reached $155 billion last year, surpassing fossil fuel investments. According to a United Nations report, $13.5 billion in new private investment was directed to companies that are developing new technologies, with almost half that (according to Private Equity Intelligence, Ltd.) coming from clean technology-focused private equity funds.
Clean energy sources account for the majority of energy investments last year, with $105 billion spent on developing 40GW of wind, solar, small hydro, biomass and geothermal energy generation capabilities. Large hydro (25GW) accounted for another $35 billion in investments.
Totaling $140 billion, this accounts for 56% of investments in power last year. The aggregate 65GW, however, represents only 41% of new capacity developed in 2008. Renewable energy dominated the clean technology space, 75% of the total at $117 billion.
Investments in clean energy technology grew 5% from 2007 to 2008, leading to a second consecutive record-setting year. Emerging markets made the difference last year – particularly China and Brazil. China has become the second largest wind market in the worlds (as measured by new capacity) and the world's top photovoltaic manufacturer.
Geothermal appears to be on the horizon for several countries, including Australia and Kenya. Nonetheless, the ongoing financial crisis has put the squeeze on the clean energy space. U.S. investments fell 2%, and growth slowed considerably in Europe.
Posted Jun 4th 2009 10:20AM by Steven Halpern
Filed under: International markets, China, Newsletters, Agriculture, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks
"Asia is booming again, and one industry that is growing like wildfire is 'green' tech in China," says Mark Skousen. In The Turnaround Alert, he eyes China Green Agriculture (AMEX: CGA)."
"Urban population and demand for energy is exploding, causing pollution and a reduction in per capita arable land to feed 1.4 billion Chinese.
"One way to profit is to buy China Green Agriculture, one of the fastest-growing agricultural technology companies in China.
Continue reading China Green (CGA): Agriculture and tech
Posted May 20th 2009 12:00PM by Steven Halpern
Filed under: India, China, Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Eastern Europe, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Obama Picks
Brendan Coffey is a specialist on "green" investing; in his The Cabot Green Investor, he looks to alternative energy firm American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC).
Here's his review of the company, which is a player both in wind power and energy efficient wiring that can play a role in improved power grid systems.
"Long an R&D company, focusing on highly conductive wiring, American Superconductor made a game-changing purchase of an Austrian wind company, Windtec, in early 2007.
Continue reading American Superconductor (AMSC): Green gains in wind and wires
Posted May 19th 2009 3:20PM by Beth Gaston Moon
Filed under: Deals, Competitive strategy, DaimlerChrysler (DAI), Green Stocks

Ed Begley, Jr. will soon have more options should he be in need of a new electric car. Daimler AG has
announced the acquisition of an equity stake of nearly 10% in Tesla Motors (not to be confused with
these guys -- five man electrical band, indeed).
The German-based automaker is teaming up with the California company to work on making electric cars "a reality." Tesla is a visionary on the electric-car front; its Roadster, which runs on battery power, is the only electric vehicle approved for highway use in both Europe and North America. (Of course, it also comes with a price tag of $101,500 -- you'd have to save a lot on gas to make up for not buying a Taurus).
Continue reading Daimler working with Tesla on electric car
Posted May 14th 2009 5:20PM by Alex Salkever
Filed under: Initial public offerings, Green Stocks
Using photovoltaic arrays made of polysilicon isn't the only, or even the most efficient, way to turn the power of the sun into electricity. A rising form of heliocentric electrical generation is called Concentrated Solar Power (CSP).
The basic concept is simple. Use mirrors to focus heat from the Sun's rays on a small area that contains water or some other liquid. The heat is transferred to the liquid, which then turns a generator and creates electricity. Sort of like cooking a hot dog over one of those backyard solar oven kits but writ very, very large.
Continue reading Concentrated Solar: Hot water, hot opportunities
Posted Apr 28th 2009 1:30PM by Steven Halpern
Filed under: International markets, Newsletters, Commodities, Oil, Stocks to Buy, Green Stocks, Obama Picks
"Zero greenhouse gas emissions, 90% average availability as a power source, minimal land requirements and competitive costs: those are just a few of the advantages of geothermal power," explains Roger Conrad.
In his leading-edge New World advisory, he looks at one favorite play on the sector: Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA), which operates a dozen geothermal plants worldwide.
"Geothermal's chief disadvantage is geographical limitations to large-scale applications. Geothermal plants are mainly economic in areas of subsurface or volcanic activity.
Continue reading Ormat (ORA): Investing in geothermal power
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