LDK’s foray into project development follows similar acquisitions last year by First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR), SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA), and MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. (NYSE: WFR). Solar wafer and cell makers have acquired project pipelines to guarantee a market for their devices in what is expected to be a down year in the solar panel market.

Other large Chinese makers like Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) and JA Solar Holdings, Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) have been focused on expanding production, following receipt of huge loans from the Chinese government. These companies are surely banking on a jump in demand from China to soak up their increased production.

Solar Power Inc. provides engineering, procurement, and construction services, asset management, financing, and project development for its customers. The company listed total assets of about $25 million in its last quarterly report filed in November 2010. The company listed no long-term debt, but lists a $3.9 million loan due in 2020 as a current liability.

Solar Power also owns manufacturing assets in China that will now be controlled by LDK. The announcement notes that LDK’s ownership stake will “significantly” strengthen Solar Power’s balance sheet and allow the smaller company to accelerate development of its project pipeline. Solar Power’s business consists primarily of utility-scale projects and distributed generation systems for commercial and industrial customers. The company has completed rooftop solar installation projects at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and other large commercial projects around the US.

Neither company identified any projects currently in the Solar Power pipeline.

LDK’s shares have risen less than 0.5%, to $10.39 on the news. The company’s 52-week trading range is $4.97-$15.10 Shares of Solar Power are up more than 37%, to $0.51, still well off the high in its 52-week trading range of $0.15-$1.42. Solar Power’s shares are trading at nearly 30 times average daily volume.

Paul Ausick

We’d note that Fuel Tech (NASDAQ: FTEK) is soon to report earnings, this weekend we issued a full earnings preview.  Also, we’ll see earnings out of Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) on Tuesday.

Cnet News ran a great piece today showing how the American Council on Renewable Energy organized the press conference for Tuesday to publicly lobby for extended tax breaks and credits for renewable energy firms beyond 2008.  Well-known energy investors and business people from General Electric (NYSE: GE), Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS), Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) and others are said to be involved.

SCHOTT AG of Germany broke ground today on a $100 million initial investment for a 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico for its SCHOTT Solar, Inc. unit.

A boutique research firm called Global Hunter initiated coverage of Solar Power (OTCBB: SOPW) and Akkena Solar (NASDAQ: AKNS) with a neutral rating on each.  In another call, Zacks.com showed an interview with one of its analysts talking up JA Solar (NASDAQ: JASO) and Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ), as well as Energy Conversion Devices (NASDAQ: ENER).  That can be seen at Zacks.com

Capstone Turbine Corporation (NASDAQ:CPST) announced that RSP Systems completed installations of New York’s first microturbines in four location under the City’s new rule for residential and commercial use.  This stock is up roughly 50% since we added this one to our "10 Stocks Under $10" newsletter, and we haven’t yet taken our foot off the gas…. nor off the turbine.

As a reminder, whether you prefer the term "Global Warming" or "Climate Change" is not the issue as far as 247WallSt.com covers it. Green business has become big business, and this affects many public companies today.

Jon C. Ogg
March 3, 2008

FPL Group, Inc. (NYSE:FPL) asked the Public Service Commission to agree on the need for 2 new Nuclear (or Nukular) generating plants.

TrendSetter Solar Products, Inc. (Pink Sheets:TSSP), an alternative energy manufacturing company of state-of-the-art solar hot water systems, solar hot water heating and storage systems, announced today that on Friday, October 12, 2007, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a package of legislation furthering his commitment to energy efficiency, conservation and pollution reduction….. That is just a noise press release.

LDK Solar (NYSE:LDK) rose 3% at one point after being awarded a saolar supply pact from Saifun Solar (NASDAQ:SFUN).

Jefferies & Co. (NYSE:JEF) announced it is hoting its 4th Global Clean Technology Conference in London on 18 October.  Companies in attendance will include BP p.l.c., ersol Solar Energy AG, Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, and THEOLIA. The conference keynote speech will be given by Jim Lyons, Chief Engineer of General Electric Company and founder of GE’s wind energy division.

OCTOBER 15, 2007

Yesterday, Alcoa (NYSE:AA) announced that products from two of its Building and Construction Systems businesses – Kawneer Company and Alcoa Architectural Products – are used extensively by a team from Georgia Institute of Technology in the 2007 Solar Decathlon now taking place in Washington, D.C.

Solar Power, Inc. (“SPI”) (OTCBB:SOPW) has completed work on one of the region’s largest photovoltaic (“PV”) solar electric systems. The 400 kilowatt (“kW”) system will provide a majority of the electricity required to power the 43,195 sq. ft. Placer County juvenile detention facility which can accommodate 27,375 bed-nights annually.

WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (OTC BB: WWAT), developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, and ENTECH, Inc. of Keller, Texas, a high tech supplier of solar technology to NASA for space operations, announced that they have signed an extension of their Letter of Intent (LOI) to merge from October 15, 2007 to November 30, 2007 pending final signatures of the Merger Agreement.

• T. Boone Pickens oil magnate still bullish and he’ll be on CNBC Wednesday;
• Goldman Sachs September Energy Super-Spike raised $135/barrel and $4.50/gallon.
• Oil hit $87 today, on its way to $100;
• $90 oil by Christmas?

If you wish to set an RSS feed to our daily "The Business Day in Global Warming" and other news we cover from time to time in alternativeenergy, you can set it the following URL:
http://www.247wallst.com/alternative_energy/index.html

As a reminder, whether you prefer the term "Global Warming" or "ClimateChange" is not the issue as far as 24/7 Wall St. covers it. Greenbusiness has become big business, and this affects many publiccompanies today. 

Jon C. Ogg
October 16, 2007