3 Investments in Global Commitment to Clean Energy

By Jennifer Yousfi

General Electric Corp. (GE) is strengthening its commitment to clean energy with a $230 million (150 million euros) investment in Spain’s Fotowatio. The investment, made through GE’s Energy Financial Services unit, will amount to a 32% stake in the solar-energy firm.

“By facilitating the growth of one of the solar industry’s leading developers, this investment gives us immediate access to attractive solar markets in Europe and the United States and will form an important part of GE’s broader strategy to become a major player in solar power,” Alex Urquhart, President and CEO of GE Energy Financial Services, said in a statement. “GE has all the right ingredients to succeed in solar: capital, technology, research and ecomagination.”

Ecomagination is GE’s in-house term for its program to help customers meet their energy needs through cleaner technologies such as solar and wind power. The company recently announced that its alternative energy investments had crossed the $4 billion threshold.

Fotowatio owns and operates solar-power installations in Spain, Italy and the United States, which will amount to approximately 960 megawatts when all projects currently under development are completed.

Countries around the world are setting aggressive renewable energy targets in hopes of reducing both environmental damage and overdependence on fossil fuels. The European Union has set a 20% target for that portion of EU energy consumption to come from renewable sources by 2020.

The International Energy Agency [IEA] projects that $45 trillion will be spent on clean technology development over the next 20 years.

And solar power is one of the fastest growing sources of alternative energy, as technological advances make solar panels thinner and more energy-efficient. To get in on the global commitment to alternative energy, here are some investments to consider.

First Solar Inc.’s (FSLR) reliance on low cost thin-film cells has helped the Phoenix-based solar module manufacturer to produce solar cells for a lower cost than its rivals. According to MarketWatch data, the average rating for this stock is “overweight” with a price target of $350. First Solar shares have traded in a range from $74.77 – $317.00 over the past 12 months and closed at $280.74 on Friday.

LDK Solar Company Ltd. (LDK) is a manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, used to produce solar cells. This China-based firm has been hard hit this year, with a share price down over 30% year-to-date. But LDK Solar has several lucrative projects in the pipeline that could turn things around as it puts the finishing touches on a brand-new silicon plant with a 1,000-ton production capacity. Another plant with a production capacity of 15,000 tons per year is set to come online some time next year. LDK Solar shares closed at $32.79 on Friday.

If you prefer the built-in diversification that mutual-fund-type investments offer, consider an exchange-traded fund (ETFs) that focuses on such “clean” technologies as solar and wind power. One of the top ETF names in this category is PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy Fund (PBW). This ETF has also been battered, but if you have a long-term investment horizon and believe global governments will honor their pledge to clean energy investments, now might be the time to buy.

Original post

Comments

[CT Programmer:]

Now might be the time to buy? Virtually all solar companies are significantly overpriced. Buying PBW is just buying into that general over-pricing environment. FSLR has a PE of 100 and a fwd PE of 50. While that's down from a PE of 150, it's still just plain overpriced. Evergreen Solar (ESLR) is in PBW and is losing money, and has a fwd PE of 20. SunPower (SPWR) is also another one in PBW and its PE is 120 with a fwd PE of 20. Don't buy into the hype. You're not "getting in on the ground floor" by buying solar. These are established companies with established cash flows, that while growing, still are just like any other company that makes money. Overpriced is overpriced. Frankly, Trina Solar (TSL) seems to be the only one I've seen somewhat fairly priced. It's PE is around 15 and the fwd PE is about 6.

2008 Aug 04 08:45 AM

[briando:]

That is correct, now is the time to buy. GE could have paid the same amount for the same percentage in TSL. LDK has a PE of 21 with a forward PE of 8, YGE has a 21 PE with a forward PE of 1.37. SOLF has a PE of 17 with a forward PE of 1.65, and that is only a few of them out there, so it is just a matter of where to look to find the solar companies to buy.

2008 Aug 04 09:12 AM

[CT Programmer:]

I agree with briando regarding individual companies. My point was that PBW itself is significantly overpriced because it includes all the overpriced solar stocks. I agree that ANY company (solar or otherwise) with good prospects and an attractive PE/fwd PE is worth looking into.

2008 Aug 04 09:22 AM

[rhj123:]

It is interesting that global clean energy investments don't seem to include wind power.... GE is getting into wind fairly big.

2008 Aug 04 12:26 PM

[notsosmart:]

i read on one of these sites that the air in beijing is so polluted that the govt has ordered that protesters be run over by hybrid tanks.

2008 Aug 04 12:30 PM

[longtermstocks:]

GE has always been ahead of the curve - I just worry about their debt.

2008 Aug 06 09:49 AM

[apeakay:]

I agree with longtermstocks. GE has a large debt load, but I read recently that Mr Immelt intends to sell off under performing segments of GE's portfolio to bring debt down somewhat.

2008 Aug 06 10:10 AM

[Fish Gone Bad:]

Anyone who owns a solar company might want to take a look at RSI Silicon Products LLC (rsi-silicon.com). They will soon be producing solar grade 6N silicon at a fraction of the cost LDK makes 9N silicon. I would normally be a buyer of LDK when it gets to $20-$25, but now I will just wait and see.

Clark Jenkins
FishGoneBad.com

2008 Aug 06 10:53 PM

[briando:]

6N silicone costs of fraction of 9N silicone nomatter who is making it.

2008 Aug 10 09:49 AM