Solar Stocks Sector Close-Up- Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI ), XsunX, Inc. (XSNX.OB)

Solar Stocks Sector Close-Up- Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI ), XsunX, Inc. (XSNX.OB)

Solar Stocks Mostly Up In Trading


POINT ROBERTS, WA —July 9, 2009, -- www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com,
a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close-up on solar stocks trading as of July 9, 2009 with news from Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI ), XsunX, Inc. (XSNX.OTCBB).

Solar Stocks in the News

Akeena Solar Scheduled to Report Second Quarter 2009 ResultsLOS GATOS, Calif., July 9, 2009 - Akeena Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, will announce its second quarter 2009 financial results on Thursday, July 30, 2009. The company will host a conference call on the same day at 11:00 A.M. Pacific (2:00 P.M. Eastern).
To access the call in the U.S., please dial 877-866-5534 and for international callers dial 706-634-1178 approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The pass code is 17769114. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and available for replay for 90 days at www.akeena.com.

Solar Company XsunX Launches News Website
XsunX, Inc. (XSNX.OTCBB) an established solar energy company, is preparing to launch its new web site providing information on the company’s recently announced expanded business plans. The company’s new web site will provide information on the development of its joint venture product manufacturing program and exciting new cross-industry thin film solar technology that XsunX has begun developing.

Ascent Solar Exceeds 10% Module Efficiency MilestoneTHORNTON, Colo.--July 8, 2009 --Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI ), a developer of state-of-the-art flexible thin-film solar modules, today announced that it has achieved its initial target module efficiency goal of 10.0% for its flexible Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenide (CIGS) monolithically integrated modules.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has independently verified that the modules measured as high as 10.4% in conversion efficiency. The modules tested at NREL were standard 429 cm2 modules produced by the company’s 1.5MW production line that was put into commercial production in the first quarter of 2009.

Dr. Prem Nath, Sr. Vice President of Production Operations for Ascent Solar, stated, “This is a significant breakthrough in demonstrating our ability to manufacture monolithically integrated flexible CIGS modules with greater than 10% module efficiency in commercial production. Ascent’s high-volume 30MW commercial plant is scheduled to commence initial production at the beginning of 2010. Module efficiency of 10.0% is a vital element for our low-cost-per-watt manufacturing goal in high volume and will establish Ascent Solar as a leader in the production of lightweight flexible photovoltaics used for portable power and building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products.”


Solar Stocks Sector Close-Up, Trading July 9, 2009

Akeena Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:AKNS) trading up at $1.09, up 0.03 (2.83%) 11:33am
Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. (NasdaqGM: ASTI) trading up at $7.73, up 0.10 (1.31%)
Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) trading up at $10.28, up $ 0.70 (7.31%) 11:50am ET
Evergreen Solar Inc (NASDAQ:ESLR) trading up at $2.10, up $ 0.05 (2.44%) 11:48am ET
GWS Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: GWSC), Day's Range: $1.65 - $1.76
JA Solar (Nasdaq: JASO) trading up at $3.77, up 0.28 (8.02%) 11:56am ET
SunPower Corporation (NasdaqGS: SPWRA) trading up at $23.29 up 0.07 (0.30%) 11:57am ET
Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE) trading up at $11.08 0.77 (7.47%) 11:58am ET
XsunX Inc: (OTCBB: XSNX) Day's Range: 0.10 - 0.1070

For investors following solar stocks, the RenewableEnergyStocks.com website provides a comprehensive list of photovoltaic and solar stocks to research.
http://www.investorideas.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp

Read solar stocks commentary and the latest column of “Renewable and Solar Energy Perspectives” with J. Peter Lynch at http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/PL/ . Read his newest columns, the Solar Innovations series, looking at private companies in the sector

Featured Solar Stock
XsunX, Inc. (XSNX.OB) is a thin-film photovoltaic ("TFPV") company that is executing a phased plan to build and operate 100+ mega-watts (MW) of thin film solar module manufacturing capacity. The Company is working to implement the installation of its base production infrastructure in Oregon, USA and develop initial production capacities necessary to service sales agreements as soon as possible.
Showcase Profile: http://www.investorideas.com/CO/XSNX/Default.asp
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Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies XSNX, GWSC news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
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Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com, Investorideas.com

Green Investor News – Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), Clean Energy Fuels Corp.(NasdaqGS: CLNE),

Green Investor News – Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), Clean Energy Fuels Corp.(NasdaqGS: CLNE), GWS Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: GWSC) MagneGas Corporation (OTCBB: MNGA), XsunX, Inc. (OTCBB: XSNX)

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC –June 23, 2009 – Investorideas.com and www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading global investor and industry portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, feature news h- lites from Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), Clean Energy Fuels Corp.(NasdaqGS: CLNE), GWS Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: GWSC) MagneGas Corporation (OTCBB: MNGA) and XsunX, Inc. (OTCBB: XSNX).

Green Investor News Hi- Lites

Solar Stock News - Amtech (NASDAQ: ASYS) to Introduce New Technology-Solar PSG Removal Equipment at Intersolar North America, July 14-16, 2009
Solar PSG Etch will be Third Product in Amtech’s Solar Portfolio (Diffusion + PSG Etch + PECVD)
Intersolar North America 2009TEMPE, Ariz.--June 23 2009 --Amtech Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASYS), a global supplier of production and automation systems and related supplies for the manufacture of solar cells, today announced that its solar subsidiary, Tempress Systems, plans to introduce its new PSG removal technology at the Intersolar North America 2009 solar industry trade show (booth #8023), taking place July 14-16 in San Francisco, California. This newest solar product represents the third product in Amtech’s solar portfolio and, combined with its PECVD tool launched a year ago, will significantly increase the company’s total available market size.

Clean Energy News - Choice Environmental Services Contracts with Clean Energy to Design, Build, Operate New Natural Gas Fueling Station to Support Growing CNG Refuse Fleet— First Clean Energy Fleet Contract in State Opens New Market in Florida —
SEAL BEACH, Calif.--June 23 --Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (Nasdaq: CLNE ) has been awarded a 10-year contract to build and operate a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station by Choice Environmental Services, a full-service solid waste company serving Southern Florida. Beginning in November 2009, Choice Environmental will begin to deploy a new fleet of clean-burning CNG refuse trucks to serve the City of Fort Lauderdale. The company’s Florida service area includes Palm Beach, Broward, Collier and Dade Counties.
In addition to Fort Lauderdale, Choice’s customers include the Miami-Dade County School District, one of the nation’s largest. The new private Clean Energy time-fill CNG fuel station will be located on property owned by Choice in Pompano Beach. The waste and recycling firm is the first in South Florida to convert a portion of its operations to natural gas fuel use.
The station also marks Clean Energy’s entry into the Florida market.


* GWS Technologies, Inc. Partners with Dominion Real Estate on Alternative Energy Projects

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- GWS Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: GWSC), an alternative energy company developing renewable energy solutions, announced today that it has partnered with Dominion Real Estate Partners, Inc. (DREP) to provide solutions and technology integration on alternative energy projects in Texas and Arizona.

GWS will also supply solar panels and equipment to retrofit commercial buildings operated by DREP and assist the company in applying for certification under the Commercial/Industrial Solar Energy Tax Credit Program. The primary goal of this program is to stimulate the production and use of solar energy in commercial and industrial applications by subsidizing the initial cost of solar energy devices. Tax credits can be used to offset Arizona income tax liability; any unused credit amounts can be carried forward for a five-year period.

* MagneGas Secures Agreement to Begin Commercial Sale of MagneGas(TM) Fuel

TAMPA, FL -- Jun 16, 2009 -- MagneGas Corporation ("MagneGas" or the "Company") (OTCBB: MNGA), a producer of a metal cutting fuel and natural gas alternative made from liquid waste, announced today that it has begun inroads into the $680 million metal cutting fuel market through a fuel distribution agreement with Florida-based Crumpton Welding Supply ("Crumpton").

Crumpton will immediately begin selling MagneGas(TM), created from non-hazardous liquid waste, to their 4,500 customers through their offices in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Auburndale and Port Charlotte. MagneGas(TM) exceeds all EPA air emission requirements and is a new green fuel technology for this market. Crumpton will submit purchase orders based on customer demand and sufficient to maintain inventory at each if its four distribution centers; it has already placed its first order to begin MagneGas(TM) market introduction.
http://www.investorideas.com/Companies/ViewDocument.asp?ID=5800


* XsunX Announces Plans To Accelerate Growth
New Focus on Proprietary Technology Development, Marketing Strengths, and Sales

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., June 18 -- XsunX, Inc. (OTCBB: XSNX), a developer of thin film solar photovoltaic (TFPV) technologies, today announced an expanded strategic plan intended to allow the Company to focus on its core strengths of technology development, marketing, and sales. In addition, XsunX intends to enter into manufacturing supply or licensing agreements with solar PV manufacturers to service its existing sales agreements and new sales opportunities that the company is pursuing. http://www.investorideas.com/Companies/ViewDocument.asp?ID=5804

More Renewable Energy and GreenTech Business and Stock News :
RSS Feed: Renewable Energy and GreenTech Business and Stock News RSS Feed: http://www.investorideas.com/RSS/feeds/RES.xml

Featured Renewable Energy Stocks

GWS Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: GWSC), an alternative energy company developing renewable energy solutions. GWS stands for GreenWindSolar. Our products and solutions are part of the new "microgeneration" movement that is transforming the way everyday people provide for their energy needs. Through a growing line of solar and wind-powered products ranging from handheld devices that can recharge an iPod to wind turbines for point-of-use alternative energy generation, GWS is leading the way in the emerging microgeneration marketplace. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Magnegas Corporation (OTCBB:MNGA) is the producer of MagneGas(TM), a natural gas alternative and metal cutting fuel made from liquid waste such as sewage, sludge, manure and certain industrial and oil based liquid wastes. The Company's patented Plasma Arc Flow(TM) process gasifies liquid waste, creating a clean burning fuel that is essentially interchangeable with natural gas, but with lower green house gas emissions. MagneGas(TM) can be used for metal cutting, cooking, heating or powering bi fuel automobiles.

XsunX, Inc. (XSNX.OB) is a thin-film photovoltaic ("TFPV") company that is executing a phased plan to build and operate 100+ mega-watts (MW) of thin film solar module manufacturing capacity. The Company is working to implement the installation of its base production infrastructure in Oregon, USA and develop initial production capacities necessary to service sales agreements as soon as possible.
* Ask us about becoming a green showcase company

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Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. Disclosure: Investorideas is compensated by featured companies XSNX, MNGA and GWSC, news submissions and online advertising.
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Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com Investorideas.com

Thin Film Technologies Changing the Solar PV Business

Thin Film Technologies Changing the Solar PV Business

Solar Stocks: First Solar, Inc.(NasdaqGS: FSLR),Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.( United Solar Ovonics) (NasdaqGS: ENER) , XsunX (OTCBB:XSNX), SolarWorld (SRWRF.PK), Sanyo Electric (SANYY.PK)

POINT ROBERTS, WA, January 6, 2009- Green Investor at Investorideas.com
http://www.investorideas.com/gi/ reports on Thin Film Technologies Changing the Solar PV Business.


By Paulo Nery

The solar photovoltaic (PV) industry is clearly in a rapid growth phase. The worldwide industry size was recently estimated at $50 billion. Over the past few years, production capacity is thought to have grown at an average of 48% each year and cumulative global production is now at 12.4 Giga Watts (GW). It is also an industry on the brink of change. New technologies are emerging that seem certain have an impact on the entire shape of the PV industry.

Since they were first developed in the 50’s there have been no major changes to the basic crystalline silicon solar cell. But significant improvements are now taking place with several competing innovations vying for position. Crystalline silicon cells, which come in mono and poly crystalline forms, are now being referred to as “first generation” PV. These mature technologies have experienced dramatic growth in volumes. But with shortages of silicon and high prices affecting finished costs, the volumes are dropping. If silicon prices drop further we could yet see more competitive prices for these solar PV modules. But there’s only so much that prices can drop with that technology.

Second generation PV, or thin film technology, holds out the real promise of more price competitive systems because they can be manufactured with dramatically less material, shorter supply chains and cheaper, faster processes. Thin film is still a nascent industry and competition between players is much more about intellectual property and access to capital than the manufacturing efficiencies that drive the first generation PV makers. So there are lower prices from improved efficiency to be anticipated still.

There are three main approaches to thin film technologies based on different materials that can be used for the semi-conductor of a PV cell. The first to be established was amorphous silicon pioneered by United Solar Ovonics (NasdaqGS: ENER) which sells under the brand Uni-Solar. This technique, now used by a few dozen manufacturers around the world, relies on a small amount of amorphous silicon alloy and accounts for about 60% of the thin film PV made today. These systems have been sold for several years as building-integrated PV offering the advantage of nearly undetectable systems on rooftops for both commercial and residential buildings. United Solar sales amounted to 73 megawatts in 2008 and their sales pipeline has $1.8 billion. Their production capacity is currently at 118 Mega Watts (MW) with planned growth to 1 GW by 2012.

XsunX, (XSNX.OB) is also manufacturing thin-film modules using amorphous silicon and has taken aim at utility scale and grid-tied commercial installations. XsunX has developed proprietary techniques that have enabled it to achieve outstanding efficiency levels for amorphous silicon. The company plans to have production capacity of 25 MW in 2009 and is aiming for 100 MW in a few years. It has also recently contracted to supply 15 MW of its solar modules, worth over $37 million, over 2 years. XsunX and United Solar Ovonics are the only listed companies that are real investment plays on silicon based thin-film technology. Yes, Canon, Sharp and even Mitsubishi are in the game, but those companies are diversified into so many other products that investing in them wouldn’t be a play on solar. Other companies manufacturing amorphous silicon thin film include Auria Solar in Taiwan, EPV in New Jersey, Free Energy Europe in France, Heliodomi in Greece, Polar PV in China, Shenzhen Topray in China, Sinonar in Taiwan, TerraSolar in New York and VHF-Technologies in Switzerland.

The next approach to thin film uses cadmium telluride (CdTe) as the semi-conductor material. While CdTe modules are cheaper and faster to produce, so far they are much less efficient at around 10%. For utility scale installations, that seems not to be a critical factor however. The leader in this field is First Solar (FSLR) with over 1 gigawatt of production capacity, over 600 megawatts shipped so far, and over 3.8 gigawatts of contracted sales, worth $6.3 billion through 2013. According to their annual report, First Solar’s gross margins are 56%, which is twice that of most of their competitors’ costs. And they claim their cost per Watt to be $1.29, half to a third of their competitors. First Solar’s objective, though, is to be at $0.65-0.70 per Watt by 2012. After a tremendous run through 2007 up to May of 2008, when the stock went from about 28 to over 300, it tumbled to 85 for a brief while in November of 2008 only to rebound recently to around 130. One of the other CdTe developments was an Ohio company, Solar Fields, which was bought last year by Q-Cells, a German company. Ava Solar, in Colorado, has recently secured $104 million in funding and plans to large scale manufacturing in 2009.

Another group of companies is manufacturing cells with Copper Indium Gallium Di-Selenide (CIGS) as the semi-conductor. These include ICP Solar in Quebec, Solyndra in California, Global Solar in Arizona, MiaSole in California, Heliovolt in Texas, TerraSolar in New York and Nanosolar in California. All of these companies remain private. One of the biggest efforts currently is coming from Honda, who is a major player in crystalline silicon cells. CIGS systems have demonstrated efficiencies that approach 20%, which is significantly higher that CdTe modules and close to the efficiency of crystalline silicon modules. However, to date at least, the manufacturing processes are less tolerant to change.

All of the thin-film technologies have the advantage of requiring much less semiconductor material. It can be less than 1 percent of silicone used in crystalline cells. And they can be manufactured using high-speed techniques such as roll-to-roll printing. Their disadvantage is their lower efficiency. Even so, many new manufacturers in each three types are coming online every month.

Third-generation PV technologies includes approaches such as dye-sensitized solar cells, quantum dots, nano-antennaes, nanomodified materials and organic cells. These all offer the promise of higher efficiencies and lower costs than even second generation technology. But none is yet clearly established as a leader, and none of these technologies is yet available as an exchange traded investment.
Both second and third generation solar technology companies are highly concentrated in the US. So some observers have concluded that there will be a shift back to the US of the solar cell manufacturing that went to Asia. However, as the companies in this sector scale up their operations they’ll be tempted to manufacture where prices are lower to keep their costs down. But it’s by no means clear since as fast as companies shift manufacturing to Asia, overseas companies are building facilities in the US. For instance, SolarWorld (SRWRF.PK) from Germany has opened what they say is the US’s largest solar cell factory in Hillsboro, OR. Meantime, Sanyo Electric (SANYY.PK) from Japan is building a factory in Salem, OR.
Thomas Friedman, author of “Hot, Flat and Crowded”, has said that energy technology is the industrial sector where global leadership will be established in the next several years. With the rush of new innovation taking place in advanced solar technologies in the US, there’s still a chance that the US can claim that leadership position. But the game is still wide open.


Paulo J. Nery


Disclaimer: Nothing in the above article in no way constitutes a recommendation to buy or invest in these or any other stocks. You should always seek professional financial advice when planning your investments or trading in the stock markets.

Featured Showcase Solar Stock:

XsunX Inc. : (OTCBB: XSNX) and (OTCBB:XSNXE) Based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., XsunX is developing amorphous silicon thin film photovoltaic (TFPV) solar cell manufacturing processes to produce TFPV solar modules. To deliver its products the Company has begun to build a multi- megawatt TFPV solar module production facility in the United States to meet the growing demand for solar cell products used in large scale commercial projects, utility power fields, and other on-grid applications. Employing a phased roll out of production capacity, it plans to grow manufacturing capacities to over 100 megawatts by 2010. More info on XsunX, Inc. can be found on our media profile at: http://www.investorideas.com/co/xsnx/default.asp or http://www.xsunx.com/

Renewable Energy Stocks Directory:
Gain Exclusive Insight on Leading Sectors, Global Trends, and Insider Trading Ideas, News, Articles and Investor Ideas Members only Restricted Content including the complete renewable energy stocks directory. Learn more: http://www.investorideas.com/membership/

About Our Green Investor Portals:
http://www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com is one of several green investor portals within Investorideas.com and provides investors with stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews, investor conferences, Blogs, and a directory of stocks.

Disclaimer: Paulo Nery is an independent columnist for Green Investor at Investorideas.com .Paulo J. Nery writes about green business, green investing and green lifestyle. www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp.


Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp
Compensation disclosure for XSNX:http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp