klemenv's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.comuser/187424/comments http://seekingalpha.com/article/111774-2-geothermal-heat-pump-stocks-to-consider?source=feed#comment-341733 341733

On Dec 22 11:39 AM Chris B wrote:

> $20k to dig a hole and install some tubing in the back yard? That
> seems kind of high to me. You could rent a backhoe yourself for
> a couple hundred a day! Sounds like you either have no space to
> work with or live on extremely rocky soil. If not, I'd suggest another
> estimate. Sometimes, a highball quote is a contractor's way of saying
> no thanks to a too-small job.

By saying geothermal, do you mean digging 50-70 m holes and using geothermal energy, or you mean laying down pipes at 1.5 meter in the ground and using sun energy stored in ground?

First one could cost more than 20K and is the most efficient.

Second one costs 2K more that air-to-water system and is very efficient (but fractionally less than geothermal).

Comparisement between air-to-water and ground-source pretty much depends on location. If winter temperatures do not get bellow 5 degrees Celsious, air-to-water is most economical. Bellow that, ground source is better.

Disclosure: (my father is long in air-to-water heat pump :)]]> Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:14:15 -0500

On Dec 22 11:39 AM Chris B wrote:

> $20k to dig a hole and install some tubing in the back yard? That
> seems kind of high to me. You could rent a backhoe yourself for
> a couple hundred a day! Sounds like you either have no space to
> work with or live on extremely rocky soil. If not, I'd suggest another
> estimate. Sometimes, a highball quote is a contractor's way of saying
> no thanks to a too-small job.

By saying geothermal, do you mean digging 50-70 m holes and using geothermal energy, or you mean laying down pipes at 1.5 meter in the ground and using sun energy stored in ground?

First one could cost more than 20K and is the most efficient.

Second one costs 2K more that air-to-water system and is very efficient (but fractionally less than geothermal).

Comparisement between air-to-water and ground-source pretty much depends on location. If winter temperatures do not get bellow 5 degrees Celsious, air-to-water is most economical. Bellow that, ground source is better.

Disclosure: (my father is long in air-to-water heat pump :)]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/112163-uranium-analysts-forgot-yellow-cake?source=feed#comment-337545 337545
In the mid term I see no other alternative to curb CO2 emition, but nuclear. If the uranium price tripple, nuclear power stations would still be profitable.

The only downside (read:not so upside) is that one company controls production of steel casting for reactors and is sold out for years.]]> Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:10:07 -0500
In the mid term I see no other alternative to curb CO2 emition, but nuclear. If the uranium price tripple, nuclear power stations would still be profitable.

The only downside (read:not so upside) is that one company controls production of steel casting for reactors and is sold out for years.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/110434-calculating-country-risk-observed-by-betas?source=feed#comment-327554 327554 Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:40:50 -0500 http://seekingalpha.com/article/109889-solar-grid-parity-the-great-1-myth?source=feed#comment-325288 325288
It is cool to have PV on your roof. One may not be willing to invest 100K, but would one invest 20K. Many would.]]> Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:31:22 -0500
It is cool to have PV on your roof. One may not be willing to invest 100K, but would one invest 20K. Many would.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108356-expect-continued-drops-in-solar?source=feed#comment-317952 317952
If they would be processing poly bought on the spot market, their margin would be intact.]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:37:48 -0500
If they would be processing poly bought on the spot market, their margin would be intact.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/108303-why-i-m-bullish-on-the-solar-sector?source=feed#comment-316521 316521
At current prices demand may vanish, and normaly that would trigger alarm.

But, note that STP non-silicon costs are 0,7 $/W. Note that price of poly will decrease from 280$/Kg (in Q3) to bellow 100$. Let's project price at 80$/Kg.

It takes 6g of poly for 1W.

So poly costs of module will decrease from 1,68$ to 0,48$.

So overall costs may decrease from 2,38$/W to 1,18$/W.

If the price of modules drops significantly, there will be huge demand for them.

The word of caution, manufacturers that have contract obligation to purchaise poly at Q3 prices will struggle.
]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:59:05 -0500
At current prices demand may vanish, and normaly that would trigger alarm.

But, note that STP non-silicon costs are 0,7 $/W. Note that price of poly will decrease from 280$/Kg (in Q3) to bellow 100$. Let's project price at 80$/Kg.

It takes 6g of poly for 1W.

So poly costs of module will decrease from 1,68$ to 0,48$.

So overall costs may decrease from 2,38$/W to 1,18$/W.

If the price of modules drops significantly, there will be huge demand for them.

The word of caution, manufacturers that have contract obligation to purchaise poly at Q3 prices will struggle.
]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/107508-overstock-com-s-obfuscations?source=feed#comment-313397 313397
great article]]> Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:03:30 -0500
great article]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/106163-as-solar-plummets-stocks-drop-below-book-value?source=feed#comment-308612 308612
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.]]> 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/100577-the-long-case-for-gushan-environmental-energy?source=feed#comment-286058 286058 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:30:09 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/100342-a-flash-in-the-pan-cramer-s-lightning-round-10-16-08?source=feed#comment-284286 284286 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:49:14 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/83940-a-look-at-four-polysilicon-based-pv-manufacturers-funding?source=feed#comment-200773 200773
Canadian Solar, Inc. has inked five new sales contracts totalling 14.9MW over the past three weeks. The Italy- and Czech Republic-based companies, who will receive a total of 14.9MW of modules from Canadian Solar in the second half of 2008, are: Arco Energy, AC Service, Ravano Green Power and Albatec in Italy and WSW in the Czech Republic.

With this new set of orders, CSI's geographic sales are as follows, with all figures estimated: 60% from Germany, 15% from Spain, 7% from the USA, and 10% from newly emerging markets in the rest of Europe. Approximately 8% of this year’s sales figures are from South Korea and China. ]]> Tue, 08 Jul 2008 13:35:46 -0400
Canadian Solar, Inc. has inked five new sales contracts totalling 14.9MW over the past three weeks. The Italy- and Czech Republic-based companies, who will receive a total of 14.9MW of modules from Canadian Solar in the second half of 2008, are: Arco Energy, AC Service, Ravano Green Power and Albatec in Italy and WSW in the Czech Republic.

With this new set of orders, CSI's geographic sales are as follows, with all figures estimated: 60% from Germany, 15% from Spain, 7% from the USA, and 10% from newly emerging markets in the rest of Europe. Approximately 8% of this year’s sales figures are from South Korea and China. ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/81820-rbs-spoils-the-fun?source=feed#comment-187834 187834
OK, nothing can help to Ninja-HELOCs-ARM guys.

But beyond that, in light of all that bad events, we have not obsereved sky falling.

Because of that, I am with contrarians.]]> Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:59:19 -0400
OK, nothing can help to Ninja-HELOCs-ARM guys.

But beyond that, in light of all that bad events, we have not obsereved sky falling.

Because of that, I am with contrarians.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/81493-will-quicksilver-continue-to-benefit-from-high-energy-prices?source=feed#comment-186383 186383
Unfortunatly, because they have lock in lower prices.

Fortunatly, because in case prices would drop, they would have hedged their positions in order to be able to pay fixed costs.]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:31:49 -0400
Unfortunatly, because they have lock in lower prices.

Fortunatly, because in case prices would drop, they would have hedged their positions in order to be able to pay fixed costs.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/80748-talking-about-raroc-is-financial-innovation-good-for-bank-profitability?source=feed#comment-182684 182684
True power of RAROC calculations is that enables management to make decission, if particular transaction (or class of transactions) if profitable for them.

And remember, regulatory capitals creates opportunistic loss (lower ROE, or interest non-earning deposits at central bank, etc.) while economic capital creates real loss (write-offs, losses).

But any system is as good as it is enforced. If regulators are scared to enforced it with Lying Brothers & Co. than ... ]]> Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:41:41 -0400
True power of RAROC calculations is that enables management to make decission, if particular transaction (or class of transactions) if profitable for them.

And remember, regulatory capitals creates opportunistic loss (lower ROE, or interest non-earning deposits at central bank, etc.) while economic capital creates real loss (write-offs, losses).

But any system is as good as it is enforced. If regulators are scared to enforced it with Lying Brothers & Co. than ... ]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/78394-encouraging-news-on-subprime-mortgage-delinquency-roll-rates?source=feed#comment-171565 171565 Thu, 22 May 2008 07:09:38 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/77738-2008-country-returns?source=feed#comment-169880 169880 Mon, 19 May 2008 03:24:08 -0400 http://seekingalpha.com/article/77272-subprime-skeletons-are-still-in-the-closet?source=feed#comment-167613 167613
But here comes Alt-A! All that Option, Hybrid, ... , Alt-A mortgages. Many reset happened in Q1, so Q1+90 days there will be many foreclosures.]]> Wed, 14 May 2008 15:09:59 -0400
But here comes Alt-A! All that Option, Hybrid, ... , Alt-A mortgages. Many reset happened in Q1, so Q1+90 days there will be many foreclosures.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/75397-fast-and-easy-fannie?source=feed#comment-160808 160808
There is joke regarding vergine olive oil, extra vergine oil, very extra virgine oil, truly extra vergine oil.

Now we have prime loans, extra selection prime loans, truly prime loans, non-lying very prime loans, etc.]]> Fri, 02 May 2008 13:29:23 -0400
There is joke regarding vergine olive oil, extra vergine oil, very extra virgine oil, truly extra vergine oil.

Now we have prime loans, extra selection prime loans, truly prime loans, non-lying very prime loans, etc.]]>