AltEnToday

I just caught a great article from Reuters UK titled, “As energy costs soar, America looks to solar“. This article provides a ton of information about the market dynamics that may make solar technology - as well as other renewable and “alternative” forms of energy extremely viable in the coming years.

It’s exciting to watch this transition take place, but it does come on the backs of millions of Americans that are struggling to make record energy prices manageable. SunPower’s CEO Tom Werner is quoted as saying that solar in some regions may reach “grid parity” as soon as 2010 - much quicker than the energy forecasts that were stated in previous years.

Further in the article, some interesting data is cited:

• In 2007, approximately 150 megawatts of new solar capacity came online, bringing total domestic solar capacity to 750 megawatts
• This is enough solar power to power 550,000 homes
• Stock performance: SunPower Corp shares are down 60 percent this year, Ascent Solar Technologies shares are down 50 percent, and Evergreen Solar shares are down 40 percent
• Crystalline-Silicon versus thin-film solar looks like the looming competitive opportunity - especially in light of upcoming forecast silicon oversupply (which would cut profit-margins on crystal-si cells)

Overall, it’s a great article, and well worth the read if you have a couple minutes.