Solar Power International Conference in Review

This year's Solar Power International conference attracted 22,500 attendees from over 70 countries beating last years tally by 10,000. The conference offered a platform for industry leaders and politicians to express their views and ideas on where the solar industry is headed and what needs to happen for the industry to thrive in this economic crisis.

Although the overall consensus seems to be optimistic, some major players in the industry like First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) CEO Michael Ahearn stated that they are concerned that the country's current financial crisis, which is spreading like the plague internationally, will have immense detrimental affects on the cost of producing solar power systems.

In contrast Ahearn also believes the recent tax credits that provide utility companies, businesses and homeowners for installing solar energy systems will benefit his company and other solar companies to branch out in the United States.

Even with our current economic condition possibly being the worst our country has seen since the great depression, a view shared by many economists, I believe we still need to focus on solar energy and other renewable energies that will ultimately preserve our environment a sentiment California’s governator Arnold Schwarzenegger shares as well. This being said, we need to look to our government officials to develop and execute with precision plans that will simultaneously harvest economic growth and provide renewable energy and green technology companies with affordable funding.

Let me wrap things up by filling you in on some note worthy developments in the Solar space

• GT Solar (NSDQ: SOLR) announced a $46.8 Million contract with Top Green Energy Technologies last Thursday to provide the Taiwan-based producer of solar cells with polysiliconLDK Solar (NYSE: LDK)

• Sun Power Corp (NASDQ: SPWRA, SPWRB) also reported on Thursday third quarter net income of $22.4 million up from $8.4 million from the same quarter last year and total revenues for the third quarter of $377.5 million up from $234.3 million the same quarter last year.

• However, not all of the solar-related news hitting the wire the news was so bright last week. Evergreen Solar Inc. (NSDQ: ESLR) a Marlboro, MA-based company announced Thursday a net loss of $23.9 million for the third quarter as opposed to a net loss of $3.7 million in the same quarter last year despite an increase in third quarter revenues of 21% to $22.1 million.
production equipment as well as a services agreement which will help fortify their ties with Chinese wafer manufacturer

Solar Power Could Supply Energy to 4 billion Worldwide by 2030

According to the Solar Generation V Report recently published by Greenpeace and the European Photovoltaic Association [EPIA], “Solar electricity can contribute largely to the energy needs of two-thirds of the world's population - including those in remote areas - by 2030.”

The report also estimates that more than 1800 gigawatts of photovoltaic systems will be installed worldwide by 2030. That's enough power to meet approximately 14% of global electricity demand and supply energy to more than 4 billion people.

Not only is solar power beneficial to the environment, it's also quite positive for the economy.

The new Solar Generation report also reveals that the global population of "green collar" workers responsible for the sale, installation and maintenance of photovoltaic solar systems is expected to balloon from 120,000 currently to more than 20 million in 2020 and nearly 10 million by 2030.

These jobs are created locally and therefore promote the economic advancement of local economies in virtually every corner of the globe. Increased dependence on solar power should also hopefully move us closer to more sustainable communities.

Currently, grants and tax breaks are helping facilitate the growth of the solar industry. Hopefully, by 2015 to 2020 the solar field will be cost-competitive with conventional energy sources. One of the main solar companies out there is LDK Solar Co., for more information click here.

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Congress Set To Hit Dimmer Switch on Solar Energy. Buying Opportunity or Time to Say Goodbye to Solar Stocks?

Sometimes the world just doesn't make sense.

Rather than incentivize the use of our largest energy source, the sun, it appears that the government is fixated on the use of agricultural products to develop our next generation of fuels.

Solar Energy - Sector Snap from Yahoo Finance:

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071112/solar_stocks_sector_snap.html?.v=1

In a move that sent solar energy stocks such as Yingli Green Energy Holding Co and SunPower Corp. tumbling, The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the country's solar energy trade group issued an alert on its website Friday that congress may exclude solar energy tax credits from a long awaited bill.

SEIA Website: http://www.seia.org/

Despite the fact that the bill may leave off solar-related incentives, many analysts feel that this has caused an ideal dip for investors to take advantage of. With many confident that surging oil prices and the potential negative environmental repercussions of developing bio-fuels such as ethanol will sway congress in favor of solar related incentives in the future, now is a great time to add some solar to your portfolio.

Check back soon for a few small-cap and large-cap solar ideas that could prove as a significant hedge against losses in some of your stocks that seem to be more effected by the current sub prime situation.