Comments on: Cleantech stock implosion yields gems

By: Joy Sabl

Joy Sabl — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:21:34 +0000

Timing matters. I don’t generally want a hot shower at noon, especially when it’s 90 degrees and sunny. (If it’s a weekday, I’m likely not even home.) My elderly neighbors, in contrast, may want to run their air conditioning at a low level just about then. By having my small solar array attached to the grid, my power can offset the spike in their demand at the right time. Now, multiply by a few thousand. Sure, inverters and cells require energy to build and transport, and they don’t last forever, but…20 years or more? Not too shabby. (Not knocking batch solar water heaters, mind you.)

By: Jon Skarimbas

Jon Skarimbas — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:45:57 +0000

Missing in this discussion is the clean tech leader Ormat with their geothermal and cogeneration facilities. This company quietly goes about the business of actualing creating and selling energy every day, signing contracts and building facilities while the others talk about their plans and emerging technology.

By: Kay Zee Ess

Kay Zee Ess — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 22:10:56 +0000

This curiously sounds like the photo purists saying that digital will never match film when in fact it surpassed it.

Solar is here and like the automobile replaced the horse will replace the archaic energy system we now employ

By: Clarence Hutterman

Clarence Hutterman — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:41:46 +0000

The Cleantech public companies are taking hits as are the small private concerns. In the UK, cleantech data provider Library House is in admistration and in the US, the Cleantech Group laid off one third of their staff, gutting their research team.

By: Stock Blurbs 12/10/08 | MarketBlurbs.com

Stock Blurbs 12/10/08 | MarketBlurbs.com — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:27:14 +0000

[...] Mark Bachman, Pacific Crest Securities with a solar stock pick: “If you want to play one stock in the U.S., Europe or China, it has to be First Solar.” [...]

By: CD

CD — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 08:59:57 +0000

I think what everyone needs to remember is that even if the amount of energy produced is small and as long as the price point for normal people to purchase the tech is reasonable, then every little bit helps.

Yes maybe you only save a few kilowatts, but if everyone is saving a few over the population of 300 million (USA alone) ppl, it is quite a bit of help to the environment. Maybe not an answer, but maybe those few extra decades we gain will be enough for our tech to advance far enough to make it even more meaningful. Besides, even 1 kilowatt is 1 kilowatt less burnt from fossil fuels. This is assuming the carbon footprint in the manufacturing of the panels is also very low which it seems to be, especially in the case of first solar.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:27:48 +0000

This is happen to PV panels but not to solar thermal industry.The situation for solar thermal market in China is still inspiring.Himin solar as the largest solar thermal products manufacturer in the world is developing rapidly.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:49:42 +0000

The EROEI for solar is now compelling. If oil sands with an EROEI of 2 make sense, then solar voltaics makes sense.

Solar performs during times of peak power, so comparisons need to be made against peak power production. Add to that the carbon footprint and you have the basis for a solar economy.

Further, we have a new administration with a mandate. Do you think the new American President will ignore this sector? I’m a buyer.

By: john

john — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:26:08 +0000

We are clearly not to a point where economies-of-scale apply. If we could start getting small-scale back-up applications of alternative energy sources in new construction and retrofits we might get there faster. Basically, we have to stop looking for a single do-everything energy source and push for a multi-source model.

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:45:53 +0000

Solar thermal is an option and the stocks were overpriced. That I agree. But, solar is growing near parity with cheaper sources. Not to mention, volatility is a killer (just look at the per KW hour charge over the past few years). Solar can help minimize this. To make it solar viable, regulations, scale (in the form of utility or individual), storage, and an upgraded grid are needed.