New Energy Finance CEO Michael Liebreich gave Renewable Energy Financial Forum (REFF) participants an informative presentation to the hundreds of financial leaders filling New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria.
Based on his firm’s research, he called the (more…)
The barons of Wall Street have been blamed for the global financial crisis. They have been the target of Main Street ire and the butt of talk show jokes. But as I walk the halls of New York City’s Waldorf-Astoria today, it is clear that the hundreds of suits filling the conference space want to change that. (more…)
The first quarter has been a rough one for most solar companies. Aside from First Solar whose profits tripled, most solar companies reported large decreases in their profits and, most likely, losses. But the last two reports (from Trina Solar and China Sunergy) paint the picture of a potential return to profitability in the (more…)
The Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) reported today that they expect global oil demand to fall 2.6 million barrels per day (Mbd) in 2009, .24 Mbd lower than their April forecast. As I wrote last month, falling oil consumption can lead to lower overall global greenhouse gas emissions. And IEA’s prediction of even lower oil demand leads me to believe a 2009 emissions drop is now (more…)
The economics of solar power are changing rapidly. And if the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development (PI) is right that solar module prices will fall more than 50% by 2012, grid parity will be achieved across many parts of the US. Solar electricity currently carries a price tag that is higher than (more…)
Denmark offshore, photo by Jim Hodson of Greenpeace
SET’s home state of New York is moving to become a leader in offshore wind power. Both the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) have offshore wind farms they are pursuing. The NYPA project would be the first major freshwater wind farm in (more…)
Solarbuzz.com reported this morning that prices for solar modules fell another few pennies per watt. As supply has fully caught up with demand in 2009, prices are skidding down. But since fossil fuel prices remain substantially lower due to the global recession, the price of solar remains relatively high and will take many more months of decreases before grid parity becomes (more…)
For months I’ve been talking about the potential of falling prices and rig counts to lower production. Well, in last week’s Energy Information Administration weekly petroleum report we finally saw a significant drop in crude oil output of (more…)
Earlier this week, I shared the news of profits and growth in the wind industry. And yesterday, a key solar company reported outstanding profits as well. First Solar reduced its manufacturing cost per watt more than (more…)
While many companies are reporting lower profits here in 2009, Florida Power & Light shared a profit increase of 46% above the first quarter of 2008. And it was no coincidence that it is the nation’s largest wind power producer. The company made $364 million and (more…)