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08.21.09 Markets & Policy 1

Clear Solar, Small Desal and Pharma Batteries: A Chat With Virgin Green Fund

Virgin Green Fund has only invested in a few companies, but it covers a large portion of the green spectrum.

by Michael Kanellos

08.17.09 Solar 3

German Solar Incentives in Jeopardy?

German politicians have revived debates over the popular feed-in tariff, some arguing that the subsidies benefit largely Chinese – instead of German – companies.

by Ucilia Wang

08.12.09 Solar 3

A Solar Renaissance

When solar gets cheap, fighting climate change gets a lot easier, says the Vote Solar Initiative’s Adam Browning.

by Adam Browning

08.12.09 Solar 1

Making Solar Affordable, One City at a Time

A California nonprofit is creating a program that it hopes would make it easier for cities and counties to offer solar financing to their denizens.

by Ucilia Wang

07.31.09 Solar 2

Feds Now Accepting Applications for Solar, Wind

The U.S. government plans to dole out roughly $3 billion to renewable energy companies willing to forgo a tax credit in exchange for cash payments.

by Ucilia Wang

07.31.09 Solar 0

Army Offers 14,000 Acres for Solar

Clark Energy Group and Acciona Solar Power plan to build 500 megawatts of solar power projects at Fort Irwin in California and sell electricity to utilities.

by Ucilia Wang

07.30.09 Solar 1

Xcel Looks for Grid Upkeep Fee From Solar Customers

The Colorado utility has proposed to impose a fee on owners of solar energy systems, many of whom don’t pay for grid maintenance even though they still rely on the grid.

by Ucilia Wang

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07.29.09 Markets & Policy 6

DOE Looks for Submissions for $30B Renewable Energy Loan Guarantees

The federal government has announced two funding programs for renewable energy, including biofuel, and transmission grid projects.

by Ucilia Wang

07.17.09 Solar 9

True or False: China Will Be a Bigger Solar Market than the U.S.

Two Chinese companies have preliminary deals to build 2.3 gigawatts of solar projects for local governments in China. Will It surpass the U.S.?

by Ucilia Wang

07.09.09 Solar 1

Feds (Almost) Ready to Issue Renewable Energy Grants

The Department of Treasury has issued some guidance on how to apply for a cash grant that would provide 30 percent of the cost of a solar or wind project. But it’s not yet ready to accept applications.

by Ucilia Wang

06.29.09 Solar 3

Feds Propose 24 Solar Energy Zones, Promise Speedier Evaluations

UPDATE: The story now has links to maps showing the proposed solar energy zones. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar treks to Las Vegas to announce a plan to dedicate 670,000 acres on BLM land for solar power projects.

by Ucilia Wang

06.26.09 Policy 1

Solar, Smart Grid Advocates: Thanks for Passing the Climate Change Bill

The House passed the legislation that contains provisions that could spur growth in solar and smart grid deployment. But homebuilders and some environmental groups aren't pleased. The controversial bill faces a tough fight in the Senate.

by Ucilia Wang

06.22.09 Solar 5

Solar Could Fall 8% Per Year, Be Competitive in Italy by 2010

A report says deploying smart grid technologies and energy storage devices would boost solar energy generation from less than 1 percent of the power supply today to 12 percent by 2020.

by Ucilia Wang

06.17.09 Solar 2

Is PG&E Overestimating the Amount of Solar?

Intersolar North America, the U.S. version of the large German trade show, is only a few weeks away and some of those involved gathered to give a preview of what's to come. The big issue: California's policies.

by Michael Kanellos

06.15.09 Policy 0

California Dreaming: Achieving 33% RPS Could Cost $12B in New Transmissions

A report by the California Public Utilities Commission outlines policy needs and tradeoffs for getting 33 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

by Ucilia Wang

06.15.09 Finance & VC 3

Financing Renewables in the Global Credit Crisis

While the credit crisis and regulatory uncertainty hurt project finance for renewable energy, look for utility ownership, corporate finance and turnkey development to take a larger role, says GTM Research analyst Shayle Kann.

by Shayle Kann

06.11.09 Markets & Policy 6

Chevron vs. Sierra Club

No, it's not a lawsuit. The heads of both organizations held their first public debate about setting emission-reduction goals and the best ways to achieve them. There were sparks, but no bloodshed.

by Ucilia Wang

06.01.09 Solar 3

The View From Intersolar

On the surface, Intersolar 2009 was business as usual, but if you looked hard enough, you could see the cracks beneath the surface, says Senior Analyst Shyam Mehta.

by Shyam Mehta

05.29.09 Solar 0

Spain: The Solar Frontier No More

Eight months after Spain changed it feed-in tariff program and dramatically shrunk its market, it has come to exemplify what not to do when crafting policies aimed at boosting solar production and business in the U.S.

by Ucilia Wang

05.27.09 Solar 2

A Solar Land Auction in Arizona

A land developer in Arizona has some desert property for you? Don't laugh – it might work.

by Michael Kanellos

05.26.09 Solar 17

150 Solar Startups: The Sequel

Would you believe 200 solar startups? What about 217? Senior Analyst Eric Wesoff's update to our 150 Solar Startups list sees the field expanding quickly.

by Eric Wesoff

05.04.09 Energy 0

Stimulus Money Going, Going…

The $90 billion or so in energy-related stimulus funding should offer plenty of opportunities for companies that can manage the process of applying for projects.

by Jeff St. John

04.30.09 Solar 7

Top Ten Solar

Let’s face it, 2009 isn’t going to be a good year for solar. The economy is still awful, and nearly everyone from solar equipment manufacturers to power plant developers are waiting and waiting for the federal government to implement programs from the stimulus package and give the sluggish industry a boost. Only a few companies like First Solar seem to be rising above the difficulties. But next year, or even late 2009, could be quite different. The stimulus money should be flowing nicely and banks could feel generous again. Construction on solar thermal and utility PV projects should pick up speed. So to pick our list of top ten companies, we looked for businesses with strategies that would lead them to make a big impact in 2010, both in the overall solar market as well as promising niches that could gain prominence.

by Ucilia Wang

04.02.09 Solar 0

Confusion, Political Spat Emerge for China Solar Subsidies

China announced an outline for a solar incentive program last week with some key details missing. That has prompted a lot of speculations and interpretation of what the government really said.

by Ucilia Wang

03.31.09 Solar 1

California's Most Generous Solar Subsidies

Slipped into the Solar Initiative is a sweetheart program for putting up solar systems at affordable housing complexes and single-family homes.

by Michael Kanellos

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Storage Integrator FlexGen Gains New Leadership at Crucial Time

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Solar Policy

Clear Solar, Small Desal and Pharma Batteries: A Chat With Virgin Green Fund

German Solar Incentives in Jeopardy?

A Solar Renaissance

Making Solar Affordable, One City at a Time

The US Will Rejoin the Paris Agreement. What Happens Next?

Feds Now Accepting Applications for Solar, Wind

Army Offers 14,000 Acres for Solar

Xcel Looks for Grid Upkeep Fee From Solar Customers

Looking for Fixes to What Broke the Texas Power Grid

Hawaii’s Bold Step Into Utility Performance-Based Ratemaking

Solar Will Be Cheapest Form of Electricity Across US by 2030, Plus Other PV Trends

DOE Looks for Submissions for $30B Renewable Energy Loan Guarantees

True or False: China Will Be a Bigger Solar Market than the U.S.

Feds (Almost) Ready to Issue Renewable Energy Grants

Feds Propose 24 Solar Energy Zones, Promise Speedier Evaluations

Solar, Smart Grid Advocates: Thanks for Passing the Climate Change Bill

Solar Could Fall 8% Per Year, Be Competitive in Italy by 2010

Is PG&E Overestimating the Amount of Solar?

California Dreaming: Achieving 33% RPS Could Cost $12B in New Transmissions

Financing Renewables in the Global Credit Crisis

Chevron vs. Sierra Club

The View From Intersolar

Spain: The Solar Frontier No More

A Solar Land Auction in Arizona

150 Solar Startups: The Sequel

Stimulus Money Going, Going…

Top Ten Solar

Confusion, Political Spat Emerge for China Solar Subsidies

California's Most Generous Solar Subsidies