New Solar design backed by Walton VC Fund

Solyndra, with over $600M in funding, finally shows its solar hand by the New York Times. Solyndra has a design that uses tubes, so they don't need to be at an angle. I wish I could see a drawing. Walton family is one of the investors.

Solar - Where are the cost estimates?

So the Congress approved Solar tax credits along with California. Germany, Japan, and Spain already have them. China is going gangbusters on getting more solar capacity.

So what is this going to do to demand and supply?

How is this going to affect pricing?

What is going on with the raw material needed for most solar cells that has gotten so costly?

Bottom line, how will all of this impact the consumer in the next 8 years? Even some SWAG would be nice to see! What impact will the slowing economy have on the solar industry?

An example here, is a $31,904 system cost the homeowner after all the rebates $11,805 with an estimated payback period of 5-7 years. Bailout bill also includes array of solar incentives

Capitalism to the Rescue?

Capitalism to the Rescue from the NY Times Magazine about VC Green investments. Good read. I did not know about the Norwegian Think battery car or Bloom Energy (fuel cell) that has required $250 Million to date in investements over the past 6 years and is still a couple of years from IPO. Ausra is interesting, low tech competitor to solar thermal. The challenge is since their are existing competitors that to do the same thing, how can they scale up the processes so they are cost efficient. When I talk about competitors, perhaps the right word is alternatives. BioFuel vs. regular oil, if the cost of the bio fuel is higher, then without goverment mandates people will usually go with the lower cost solution.

Solar Tax Credits Passes

I am surprised the solar tax credit passed with the amount of times it had been killed. By putting it in the Wall Street Bill was smart, otherwise it would have been left since congress is now on break. So 8 years of tax credits, that helps a lot for planning. Will it help prices? Probably not in the short term, since there will be an increase in demand with the lower prices to the end user and it takes time to ramp up production (which costs).

So the question is will the solar manufacturers be able to get the credit they need to take advantage of this bill?

Los Angeles Transit Plans

Measure R is a ballot initiative for Los Angeles County that would raise the sales tax by half cent. My guess is with the economy, it will fail since it needs a 2/3rds vote. Not to mention how the area I live in per this editorial is being short changed. San Gabriel Valley gets MTA crumbs by a local mayor in the San Gabriel Tribune.

Clouds loom over solar panel ramp up

Clouds loom over solar panel ramp up from the EE Times. The question or challenge will the US be renewing the tax credits? I am not sure about the statement the industry was willing to sell at a loss to keep market share for a couple of years. From what I can tell that not correct.

Solar tax credit rises again

Solar tax credit rises again as part of the Wall Street Bailout. Senate approved it, but we will see with the house that is scheduled to vote on it Friday.