Comments on Mark Henwood's articles RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/author/mark-henwood/articles http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-325764 325764 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:44:35 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-325762 325762 Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:42:12 -0500
Did you know the Solar Panels put out more power if under water and cool ?

They lose about 1% of output when they heat up in the sun. Not much just something we noted in our experiments with some panels. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-316511 316511 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:26:54 -0500
My conclusion is that JASO stock is certainly not worth 27$ or even 15$ as many naive investors ore wishfull thinkers might hope, but is certainly worth more than the book value of one share.

IMHO]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-310189 310189 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:39:58 -0500
great comment. can you provide some additional details? like where you are located, whether your calculations include tax incentives, etc.

]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-308612 308612 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:35:59 -0500
It is predicted, that ex-works price of modules could be at 3 evr/W next year.

At assumption of 20 years of life time, here is ROI as function of price:

6evr/W ... 3,04%
5evr/W .... 5,17%

what about thin film?

4evr/W ... 8,04% that sounds better than fixed interest

bottomline, if the price of modules drops, average Joe here is going to start putting modules on his roof.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-308472 308472 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 21:49:07 -0500
Solar is the way to go but I dont understand why some stocks like jaso are so beat up. The street is teaming up and shorting solar. They stick together in sectors' or Features.

Its like the Steelers game yesterday some times your just getting cheated.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307961 307961 I like the fact that solar is a good source of power. problem is > in this environment everyone wants green they just want it at a much > lower cost. Up front costs of solar are still too high to get the > average joe involved. and that is what it will take to make solar > worth while in USA. What is required the better gov. subsidies > similar to what has been one in Germany. Who in there right mind > will put in the system that will take close to 20 years to pay back > the initial investment, as wells that investment will last only 20~25 > years? I am not a tree hugger but I do thin we need more green > energies. solar is part of it but the upfront costs need to be dealt > with prior to it making it main street.. > mark]]> Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:52:32 -0500
I strongly support subsidies and incentives for all forms of alt energy, however at this time I don't think we can afford it.

On Nov 16 08:42 AM WPSPIKER wrote:

> I like the fact that solar is a good source of power. problem is
> in this environment everyone wants green they just want it at a much
> lower cost. Up front costs of solar are still too high to get the
> average joe involved. and that is what it will take to make solar
> worth while in USA. What is required the better gov. subsidies
> similar to what has been one in Germany. Who in there right mind
> will put in the system that will take close to 20 years to pay back
> the initial investment, as wells that investment will last only 20~25
> years? I am not a tree hugger but I do thin we need more green
> energies. solar is part of it but the upfront costs need to be dealt
> with prior to it making it main street..
> mark]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307808 307808 Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:42:14 -0500
And in reference to the last comment about states laying off people, he (or she) doesn't realize that most states have already put into place mandated increases in the percentage of "alternative" energy sources that utilities must use. It has nothing to do with the state --- its all on the utility companies to do it. That is the bulk of this stuff --- not private individuals and subsidies. Just like WPSPIKER said the subsidies, while they are there, are currently not enough to push the average Joe to invest in panels for his roof. I've looked into it and even with big incentives from CT that nearly pay half of the system, its still 15 years to break-even.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307372 307372 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:17:17 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307350 307350 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:15:40 -0500
Obama will spend $15 Billion a year annually! For Alt. Energy Research, not funding of any individual sector but for all sectors combined. Research does not equate to building a Solar complex or a Wind farm.

Research can be equated to exploration for oil. The result however is less promising. Its either a dry hole or something (commercial or not) comes out of it but you are finished at that location. With Research funding might continue even if initial results weren't very pretty. The continuation of drilling the dry hole, so to speak.

IMHO]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307314 307314 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:14:11 -0500 America will forget Solar or Wind power.
Sometimes I wish gasoline will remain
at $4.50 per gallon longer so people will
wake up to alternative energy is for long term
solution. Guess we never learn & spoiled.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307265 307265 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:09:57 -0500
Renewable energy is already cheaper than fossil fuels if you include the externalities of fossil fuels. These externalities or hidden costs are real. A cap and trade or carbon tax should level the playing field.
There are financing plans that make it easier for homeowners to pay for solar panels. For example, Berkeley CA recently approved a plan to sell bonds to finance solar on homes. Any homeowner in Berkeley can get solar panels installed with no upfront payment.
The cost of the solar will be paid off each year when the homeowner pays property taxes. If the house is sold, the next owner picks up the payments.
There's not reason why this can't be done all over the country. It helps.
In commercial projects, there are power purchase agreements that mean the end user doesn't pay for the installation.

The cost of solar panels is coming down fast. And the efficiency is improving. Some companies like Nanosolar and First Solar are close to $1 a watt which makes them competititve with fossil fuels even without considering externalities. Nanosolar says they can build a utility scale solar system cheaper than you can build a coal fired power plant. And it won't need any coal, or pollutions to clean up.
The solar technology that will replace coal and gas power plants is solar thermal. When it is up to scale, it will be directly competitive with fossil fuel plants. As author and scientist Joseph Romm says, it is the only source of renewable energy that fits the needs of the electric grid and can produce the power necessary to replace coal and gas. This is particularly true of solar thermal with heat storage. Heat storage can extend the hours of operation into the night, and keep the output steady when clouds pass over.
This is a must read article:
www.salon.com/news/fea...

Solar thermal can produce power 24/7
It's a sign of how misinformed Americans are, that probably 80% of Americans have never heard of what is our best option for renewable energy. Solar thermal can operate as base load, follow on, and peaker power plants. And it fits perfectly with the power demand cycle during each day.
Combine these with wind farms and the distributed energy of PV all over the country and you have the solution to the energy crisis.
No nukes needed. Think nukes are the way to go? Read this and think again.
www.theleaneconomyconn...
Nuclear is not sustainable in any way shape or form. Period.





]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307180 307180 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:33:02 -0500
is Wind Dead???? I dont think so!!! Obama is planning 15 Billion per year for renewables and WIND will lead the way!]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307163 307163 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:16:13 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307013 307013 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:45:16 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-307011 307011 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:42:49 -0500 mark]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-306995 306995 Sun, 16 Nov 2008 08:24:45 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296840 296840 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:33:52 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296811 296811 Agree. The problem, as I see it, is the same as the Junior Gold miners > face. So buying a basket of solar companies is the route to go, as > you have done. > > Would an ETF like Cleanenergy suffice or do you prefer to use a rifle > vs shotgun approach?]]> Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:36:50 -0500 www.caminoenergy.com/s... and see a complete list of the ETFs available in this space and their returns. The broad based ETFs have all kinds of stuff in them that may or may not be decent strategies in sustainable energy. I seen no reason why these ETF improve a Fama/French type index portfolio and I don't use them.

The sector specific ETFs breakdown into the the "Wind" ETFs and the Solar ETFs. The Wind ETFs also contain non-wind names because there aren't enough pure play wind companies to form an ETF. There are enough to form a Renewable Electricity ETF, but just barely.

On the Solar side the two ETFs are roughly equivalent. That said, with a little more work you can look at the names in the ETF and potentially make a better selection then the ETF's index rules. That is the course I have taken.

On Nov 02 05:12 PM paultaut wrote:

> Agree. The problem, as I see it, is the same as the Junior Gold miners
> face. So buying a basket of solar companies is the route to go, as
> you have done.
>
> Would an ETF like Cleanenergy suffice or do you prefer to use a rifle
> vs shotgun approach?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296787 296787 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:54:30 -0500
Most of the Solars look like Freddy has done a number on them. But some will do better than others. Picking the most battered isn't enough because they might have other issues.

So I suggest doing what Mark has done, put together a basket. Those with low current PE ratios would be first, make some room for potentially viable Tech, and toss in a speculative play, some stock that has lost most of its value.

I give all of you a site that I use, it currently requires only your registration. www. J3SG.com

For your registration, you can opt to receive Insider Trades on the companies you input the Symbol on, in your email as they come in. It will include option excercises, stock awards, shares bought both directly and indirectly, open market transactions etc.

When buying your Solar Stocks, I would suggest a visit there first. It will help "weed out the weeds".
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296730 296730 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:03:48 -0500
It also seems like now is the time to invest in the solar space, rather than when all is rosy. Any comments Mark?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296718 296718 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:37:33 -0500
www.energyvortex.com/e...

We don't believe, unless convinced otherwise, that the laws of thermodynamics have been repealed for solar and wind electric generation technologies.

So let's have some more fun trying to find about heat rates for solar and wind.

While trying to get our $22,036 back from the feds, of course.

www.prosefights.org/nm...

We were fairly successful about finding out how the Iraq/Iran war got started.

www.google.com/search?...

So let's try to repeat our previous success with HEAT RATE for solar and wind.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296692 296692 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:59:42 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/102252-ldk-solar-has-caught-my-attention?source=feed#comment-296600 296600 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:32:47 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296593 296593 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:27:10 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/103435-solar-investment-epic-correction-leads-to-depressed-sector-with-plenty-of-potential?source=feed#comment-296585 296585 Sun, 02 Nov 2008 17:12:16 -0500
Would an ETF like Cleanenergy suffice or do you prefer to use a rifle vs shotgun approach?]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/99468-sustainable-energy-after-the-correction?source=feed#comment-295594 295594 Sat, 01 Nov 2008 02:06:51 -0400 During summer months we have pretty high electric bills. What would you recommand so that we can cut down about 30% of the monthly bill ? Is it cost effective now ?
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/99468-sustainable-energy-after-the-correction?source=feed#comment-295469 295469 Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:01:22 -0400
They go out of their way to meet all my needs to supply my customers a cheaper way to heat and cool their homes.

I buy all YGE the stock I can afford. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/102252-ldk-solar-has-caught-my-attention?source=feed#comment-293344 293344 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:28:48 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/102252-ldk-solar-has-caught-my-attention?source=feed#comment-293250 293250 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 08:00:35 -0400