Editor’s Note: Related tickers: First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR), MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR), LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK), Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE), El Paso Electric Company (NYSE:EE), General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE:SOL), Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP), General Motors Company (NYSE:GM), NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)
First Solar, Inc. : First Solar Sets CdTe Module Efficiency World Record, Launches Series 3 Black Module (4-Traders)
First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) today announced it set a new world record for cadmium-telluride (CdTe) photovoltaic (PV) module conversion efficiency, achieving a record 16.1 percent total area module efficiency in tests confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The new record is a substantial increase over the prior record of 14.4 percent efficiency, which the Company set in January 2012. Separately, First Solar also set a record for CdTe open circuit voltage (VOC), a critical parameter for PV performance, reaching 903.2 millivolts (mV) in NREL-certified testing. This new record marks the first substantial increase in CdTe VOC in over a decade of international R&D. The new records come just six weeks after First Solar announced a new world record for CdTe solar cell efficiency of 18.7 percent.
Chinese solar industry on the go, First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR), Yingli Green Energy Hold (NYSE:YGE) the leading firms (PRCarbon)
In order to strongly build its renewable manufacturing industry China has put tens of billions of dollars and now the country enjoys its lucrative dominance in solar industry. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR), Sharp Electronics and Q.Cells were the top three solar manufacturers in 2008, followed by China’s Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP) in fourth place. According to the Renewables 2012 Global Status Report, today China is home to the top nine solar companies. Top companies like Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP), Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE), Trina Solar, LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK), and many others have used easy and cheap money from Chinese lenders to bankrupt the rest of the globe’s solar industry and claim it as its own.
Construction Halted at First Solar’s 230 MW Antelope Valley Site (GreenTechMedia)
Construction has been halted at First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)’s 230-megawatt Antelope Valley solar power plant due to air standards issues. After multiple delays in construction throughout 2012 due to violations of the project’s conditional use permit (CUP), Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR1) started delivering electricity to the Southern California Edison grid at the end of the year and now has 150 megawatts of its planned 230-megawatt nameplate capacity on-line. The current interruption of construction is due to the failure of First Solar to bring the facility into compliance with the Federal Ambient Air Standard, according to Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District Operations Manager Bret Banks.
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR): Will This Be the Breakout Year for Alternative Energy? (InsiderMonkey)
Proponents of alternative energy such as solar and wind power have fought a long uphill battle. For years they’ve tried to prove that these energy solutions were not only more ecologically friendly, but also that the potential, long-term returns made them a better investment… One example of improving efficiency from solar is First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR)’s Macho Spring facility in New Mexico. The 50-megawatt solar farm will sell power to El Paso Electric Company (NYSE:EE) for 5.79 cents a kilowatt-hour, less than half of what El Paso Electric Company (NYSE:EE) pays to buy power from coal plants. A large uptick in manufacturing has also helped First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) start to realize even further cost reductions. Today, the company sports one of the lowest per-watt costs at about $0.66 today, and the cost is expected to lower by another 33% in four years.
India Plans Subsidies to Boost Solar-Power Sector (WSJ)
The Indian government will unveil proposed regulations Monday to create subsidies and expand a “Buy Indian” mandate to give a boost to its lackluster solar-power sector, putting it on a collision course with the U.S. …”We believe that restricting imports through measures such as local content requirements only serves to raise prices, limit solar adoption, and hinder the growth of domestic solar industries, in which manufacturing plays a relatively minor role in overall economic value creation,” said a spokeswoman for Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) +3.83% the largest supplier of solar thin films in India.
Malacca expects RM400m cruise terminal, other projects to drive growth (TheStar)
The development of a RM400mil marina jetty terminal in Malacca for cruise liners is in the works, one of many projects lined up to drive the state’s growth. Malacca was eyeing RM8bil of investments this year RM3bil and RM5bil for manufacturing and services sectors, respctively, Malacca chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam told StarBiz. He said the manufacturing sector would create 6,000 jobs this year and the services sector, 2,000. …Earlier, US-based SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) had committed to invest RM3.7bil, of which RM2.4bil had already been pumped into a solar panel plant that has started operations. This year, the company is expected to invest the balance RM1.3bil to expand operations.
Germany’s SolarWorld seeks savior from Qatar as Hillsboro plant carries on (OregonLive)
Financial clouds darkened again this week over SolarWorld, as the German company with a Hillsboro factory announced yet more losses, postponed its annual meeting and saw its stock plunge to a nine-year low…Toor says competing manufacturers have better prospects. “SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) and First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) have both some sort of differentiation,” she said, citing two U.S. manufacturers, “not only in terms of technology but also business strategy.” Oregon taxpayers have a financial stake in SolarWorld survival, having invested $41.9 million so far in tax credits and more in county tax abatements. From those state credits, SolarWorld netted $28.1 million, or less than 5 percent of its Hillsboro investment of more than $600 million.
China’s Clean Energy Investment Puts America to Shame (Fool)
In the U.S., when the topic of clean energy comes up, we like to debate concepts like climate change or global warming, turning it into a political debate more than a strategic one. Subsidies to industries such as wind or solar, no matter how small, take criticism from politicians and the media while the government continues to subsidizes oil, gas, coal, and nuclear production to the tune of billions of dollars each year. We neglect to account for externalities such as the cost of war ships keeping the Suez Canal open when Iran threatens to close it, oil spills inland and offshore, the wars in Iraq, and the limited liability given to the operators’ nuclear plants. If Fukishima happened here, it would be no problem for U.S. companies — Uncle Sam would pick up the tab…There are a fleeting few U.S. companies that can now stake claim to a significant piece of the clean energy future. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) and SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) appear to be winners in the solar industry, and they’ve even turned to China as a potential customer for their products. But they still have to fight off fierce competition from China. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) is using its sheer size to stay afloat in wind power and is still investing in solar. The sad truth is that most of the other large manufacturers in wind and solar have fallen by the wayside.
MEMC Electronic Materials Receives “Neutral” Rating from Zacks (WFR) (UtahPeoplesPost)
Zacks reiterated their neutral rating on shares of MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, StocKRatingsNetwork.com reports. The firm currently has a $4.50 price target on the stock. Zacks’ analyst wrote, “MEMC posted a decent fourth quarter with the bottom line surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. But revenues failed to encourage us as it decreased on a year-over-year basis and came below our expectation. Solar systems sales were lower than expected. Uncertainty around product demand barred the company from providing any guidance. However, we are encouraged by management’s commentary of expecting a better demand/supply situation in the semiconductor market in 2013.
Volume Buzz (MEMC Electronic Materials, Stillwater Mining Company, Kite Realty Group Trust, Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc) (MeshPress)
Holeinonestocks.net, an investor research portal specializing in several sectors including biotech and healthcare and tech stocks on the U.S. market, issues news updates on the following stock:- MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) shares decreased 5.66% to $4.17. SunEdison, a leading worldwide solar energy services provider and a subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials, on Mar. 28, announced a global milestone in the company’s solar operations as it now has more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of global solar PV (photovoltaic) assets under the management of its Renewable Operations Centers (ROCs). The facilities managed by the ROCs include a mix of plants that are owned by SunEdison and its investment partners, as well as third parties who have come to SunEdison to utilize its advanced services platform.
This Week in Solar (Fool)
It was another busy week in solar, and we may be a few steps closer to the much-needed consolidation of Chinese solar manufacturers. The industry has long struggled with oversupply and far too many manufacturers, so the failure of a few Chinese companies would be a help for everyone else. Here’s more on that and what else happened this week in solar. …MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) announced an agreement to build a 1.1 MW solar plant in Brazil. This may seem like a small amount, but it’s one of the largest plants in Brazil and gives the company a foothold in this important market.
YGE, WFR, SOL, PWER and STP has made big deal despite gloomy market trends in solar panel (PropertyMentorGroup)
Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE) has been declared third out of 90 panels. Yingli Green (NYSE:YGE)’s panel has a capability of generating 1,118.7 kilowatt hours of electricity, with the efficiency of 93.1%, according to the company’s report. MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) declared an agreement, according to the deal the company would build one of the biggest solar plant in Brazil, which would be capable of generating 1.1 MW electricity in Brazil. ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE:SOL) has announced that the company will build three big solar plant in different areas including Mexico, in which ReneSola will build 1.8 MW solar plant in the country. While in its second agreement, the company has signed a 44 MW module a deal with Enerparc and third one with Uenohara Mega Solar Project in Japan, according to which ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE:SOL) will supply 2 MW of modules.
Alternative Energy Wins Order for China-Backed Indonesian Solar (BusinessWeek)
Alternative Energy Ltd., a Singaporean developer of energy-saving technologies, won an order to provide engineering, procurement and construction services to PT Mega Urip Pesona solar parks in Indonesia. LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK) will supply panels to some plants under a deal last year, and a planned $600 million loan from China will provide funding, Alternative Energy said today in a statement. Separately, a 10 to 50 megawatt park will be built in Bali, and nine 10-megawatt plants elsewhere in Indonesia. Alternative Energy will be paid by Mega Urip, an Indonesian project developer, at a rate of at least 5 cents a watt.
LDK Signs Thai Solar PV Deal (Nasdaq)
LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK), amidst its restructuring mode, clinched a large-scale contract for the delivery of solar modules to Thailand’s premier developer of photovoltaic (“PV’) projects, EA Solar Nakornsawan Co., Ltd. Per the agreement, LDK Solar will supply a total of 63 megawatts (“MW’) of PV modules to EA Solar and a weekly transport of 6.3 MW starting Aug, 2013. Of late, the China based PV manufacturer has been struggling to manage its substantial debt burden and has defaulted in repaying to the holders of 4.75%, $23.7 million convertible senior notes due on Apr 15, 2013. The company partially compensated the loan.
LDK Default Sends Alarm Across The Market (SolarPVInvestor)
LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK) recent announcement of debt default sends shockwaves across the market. The once-shining star of the solar PV industry is showing signs of becoming the first mover of a destructive chain reaction that could affect key industry players – another sign that the PV industry is undergoing a harsh winter that has seen giants brought down to their knees. On Tuesday (April 16th), LDK announced default on its convertible bonds valued at 24 million USD. The news came after two years of continuous capital injection from the city government of Xinyu, of China’s Jiangxi province, where LDK is based, as well as after the company’s numerous attempts at self-rescue through debt restructuring and asset liquidation.
LDK Enters Insolvency; GM to Build Four More Plants in China (TheChinaPerspective)
LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK), the world’s second biggest solar panel maker, posted $517 million in net losses for Q4 2012 after it sold products at extremely low prices for cash to pay for heavy debts. The seventh consecutive unprofitable quarter makes the company the worst performer in the industry, even worse than Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP), which was declared bankrupt last month after defaulting on a $541 million bond repayment. LDK had $5.42 billion in liabilities as of the end of 2012, overshadowing its $5.28 billion worth of assets. It failed to fully repay the $23.8 million of maturing convertible bonds last week. …General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) plans to build four new plants in China in the next three years, boosting its annual capacity in the country to five million vehicles, GM China president Bob Socia said at the Shanghai auto show.
Bearish bets surge on China ETF (FinancialPost)
Bets on declines in the largest Chinese exchange-traded fund are surging to the highest level since 2007 on concern a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy will stifle company earnings. …LDK Solar Co., Ltd (NYSE:LDK), once the world’s second-biggest maker of wafers used in solar panels, slipped 11 percent to $1.08 last week after it reported a seventh consecutive loss in the fourth quarter. Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE:STP), whose main unit was forced into bankruptcy after defaulting on a $541 million bond repayment last month, declined 13 percent to 65 cents.
Yingli Green Energy’s Multicrystalline Module Ranks High in PHOTON Module Yield Test 2012 (Azom)
At the PHOTON outdoor test field in Aachen, Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE)’s flagship multicrystalline module (the YGE 60 Cell Series, YL240P-29b) generated an annual yield of 1,118.7 kilowatt-hours per kilowatt. According to the test result, the performance ratio of Yingli Green Energy’s module reached 93.1% and exceeded that of the winner from the same test in 2011 by 2.8%. This performance ratio indicates what percentage of the incoming solar irradiance converts into electricity and determines the ranking in the Test. The 60 Cell Series that was tested is technically and materially similar to other popular multicrystalline product lines, including the Company’s 48 Cell Series for residential, the utility-scale module lines, YGE 72 Cell Series and YGE U-Series, as well as YGE-Z Series (with a proprietary Zep Solar frame).
Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (ADR) (NYSE:YGE), Petroleo Brasileiro Petrobras SA (ADR) (NYSE:PBR), Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ONXX) (MeshPress)
Holeinonestocks.net, an investor research portal specializing in several sectors including biotech and healthcare and tech stocks on the U.S. market, issues news updates on the following stock:- Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE) shares increased 4.04% to $2.06. The company, on April 19, announced that the Company ranked third among ninety well-known manufacturers worldwide in the PHOTON Module Yield Test 2012 (the “Test”) conducted from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.
First Solar and Yingli Green billed as suppliers to NextEra’s downsized Blythe solar farm (PV-Tech)
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)’s 1GW plans for the Blythe solar farm in California, once expected to be the world’s largest solar energy power plant, have been cut in half to make the project viable. Documents submitted to the California Energy Commission as part of the revised permitting procedures reveale that the project is now being planned as a 485MW plant, using modules from First Solar and/or Yingli Green Energy Hold. Co. Ltd. (NYSE:YGE). NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) has worked with First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) on other projects.
