By Ucilia Wang

SAN FRANCISCO -- Worldwide demand for solar energy equipment is set to drop about 17 percent in 2009, the first time the market has ever experienced a drop in demand, an analyst said Thursday.

By Ucilia Wang

Several U.S. Senators have introduced a bill to provide a tax incentive to solar energy equipment manufacturers in a bid to create new jobs.

Several U.S. Senators have introduced a bill to provide a tax incentive to solar energy equipment manufacturers in a bid to create new jobs.

The Solar Manufacturing Jobs Creation Act, introduced by Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. and Robert Menendez, D-N.J., would give manufacturers access to a cash grant program created by the stimulus package this year to help finance solar power installations.

By Ucilia Wang

SolarWorld (SRWRF.PK) plans to expand its solar panel production in the United States while also boosting its solar cell manufacturing, the company said Monday.

By Ucilia Wang

Solar companies have rolled out new panels and announced contracts and investments as the 24th annual European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference is underway in Germany this week.

A couple of weeks ago, I noted the importance of examining parameters other than module costs when gauging the economic competitiveness of solar PV energy. I noted how multiple factors influence the levelized cost of energy produced by solar PV systems, and thus its relative cost position on the grid. Nothing new here.

However, besides standard test conditions (STC) conversion efficiency, or nameplate conversion efficiency, public data on parameters other than cost per watt-peak is not always easy to come by. That's why I found reading "Potential of photovoltaic systems in countries with high solar irradiation", a paper about to be published in the journal Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, particularly interesting.

SunPower beat estimates for its Q2 when it reported on July 23, and raised the bottom of its forecast for 2009 revenue from $1.3 billion to $1.35 billion this year.

Revenues for the quarter of 225 million euros fell about 3% shy of consensus expectations of 233 million. Consensus expectations for the full year were for 1,017 million euros revenue, and so for the company to keep its guidance of one billion euros, it should not be viewed as a surprise. In 2008 revenues were 996.7 million euros, and so the guidance is calling for about a 10% year over year gain despite a larger capacity rise.

By Ucilia Wang

The heady cocktail of generous federal and local government incentives and renewable energy mandates in the United States could create a new manufacturing hub in a country that often talks about losing manufacturing jobs to Asia.

Given the global economic instability, population trends, environmental, political and social challenges ahead; we are looking at a rapidly evolving requirement for the next ten years or more of increasing sustainable energy solutions.

Note the closing summary analysis, that provides details to these shifts coupled with the increasing price of oil from aging fields in the months and years ahead enabling the growth of sustainable energy sectors as supported by research data including from the EPA, DOE, and International Energy Agency, 2009.

The first quarter has been a rough one for most solar companies. Aside from First Solar (FSLR) whose profits tripled, most solar companies reported decreases in their profits and some losses. But the last two reports (from Trina Solar and China Sunergy) paint the picture of a potential return to profitability in the second quarter. Solar companies to watch include; LDK Solar (LDK), Canadian Solar (CSIQ), First Solar, SunTech Power Holdings (STP), SolarWorld (SRWRF.PK), Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd (SANYY.PK), Panasonic (PC), Energy Conversion Devices (ENER), Yingli Green Energy (YGE), and Trina Solar (TSL).

Prices fell faster than costs

The PV solar power market is intensely competitive and rapidly evolving. The number of solar manufacturers has steadily increased due to the growth of actual and forecast demand for PV products and the relatively low barriers to entry.

Much of the hopes for a fast global economic recovery rest on China’s shoulders. The country is certainly doing its part, with its low interest rates and stimulus package that trumps ours in size (relative to GDP). It’s a similar story in the alternative energy arena, where China’s centralized efforts are likely to have a faster and more direct impact than here in the West.

China’s alternative energy efforts are killing two birds with one stone. China’s poor air quality has become notorious in recent years. Alternative energy is much cleaner than coal, which still provides about 80 percent of the country’s electricity. The move toward alternative energy will create a greener tomorrow for this world’s biggest emitter of carbon dioxide. And, of course, much like with the U.S., alternative energy projects are a part of the new stimulus package.

By Ucilia Wang

The number of solar energy installations in California shot up nearly three-fold during the first four months of this year, state data shows. Government agencies, in particular, are leading the way on installations.

First Solar (FSLR) insiders are selling again. Insiders made a killing selling FSLR stock from $200-300 last year, but this activity came to a screeching halt after August, 2008. With FSLR once again pushing $200 within a much more forgiving stock market, selling season has begun anew with John Walton's estate starting the festivities with a $36M sale on April 30, 2009. In just one week of selling, insiders have cashed in an incredible $2.8 BILLION dollars worth of stock! John Walton's estate has sold 60% of that total. All told, this is an impressive sum for a company with a market cap of $16B.

As always, I sympathize with the sellers. It makes sense to sell into strength, when the demand is robust enough to absorb the large supply, when caution gives way to enthusiasm. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that "Follow-On Stock Deals Hit Two-Year High," so we know that the market is much more willing these days to provide for the various funding needs of publicly traded companies and their insiders. I am guessing that the traders and investors who have boosted FSLR since the 25% post-earnings pop on April 30, 2009 care very little about why these insiders are dumping so much stock, so rapidly.

By Ucilia Wang

Asia already has more solar equipment manufacturing capacity than other regions in the world. That dominance will likely grow.

By Jeff St. John

To the list of solar companies that have projected lower prices for their products in the near future — think Q-Cells (QCLSF.PK), Renesola (SOL), Solon (SGFRF.PK), Suntech Power Holdings (STP) and SunPower (SPWRA) — you can now add German solar panel manufacturer SolarWorld (SRWRF.PK).