Solar Power

The solar power industry must overcome difficult technological challenges if it is to be a viable alternative to more conventionally produced electricity. A few companies such as International Business Machines (NYSE: IBM) are starting to surmount the obstacles, suggesting that solar future's may...

While investors have been focused on alternative energy sources such as wind, water and solar power, there's another renewable source that's been relatively ignored. Geothermal power, converting heat stored in the earth's crust into energy, is still a widely untapped resource in the...

Here's another "If you build it, they will come" story. NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) NRG Energy announced on Thursday it was acquiring Goal Zero, a company that makes portable solar battery chargers. Goal Zero's products include small, hand-held solar chargers that can be used to...

These days, energy is a big concern on a global scale. But some projects seem so far-fetched that they belong in science fiction novels rather than city streets. Here's a look at a few:  Energy Duck Designed by a British team, the Energy Duck promises to provide Copenhagen with...

One of the largest challenges facing the alternative energy industry has been coming up with a cost-efficient, long-term storage of electricity generated by wind and solar power. However, that obstacle hasn't diminished growing international interest in alternative energy. Since 2009, the...

There's another sign that the big corporations are taking the idea of alternative energy and energy sustainability quite seriously. Swedish home furnishing retailer IKEA announced last week it is investing in wind power, with the purchase of the Hoopeston Wind facility in Illinois. The company...

Among the leading U.S. solar-related stocks, Advanced Energy Industries (NASDAQ: AEIS), First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) and SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) saw the largest swings in the number of shares sold short in the first two weeks of March. Short interest in GT Advanced Technologies, SunEdison and...

Here's something to consider, if you're looking at investment in alternative energy suppliers: Every four minutes in 2013, according to a Solar Energy Industry Association report, a solar energy project was installed on a U.S. rooftop. Solar energy is still in its infancy, reportedly providing...

Stock futures pointed to a lower open following premarket data revealing that the U.S. economy and job market are improving faster and stronger than expected. Selling began at the bell and continued for the entire day as major indices failed to hold on to any rallying gains. Investors and...

One of the largest bearish arguments against solar stocks has always been the simple fact that the sun doesn't always shine. SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) came up with a solution: use big battery packs that will provide backup power while lowering electric bills. Elon Musk's Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA...

Some excellent journalism by Katie Fehrenbacher at the tech web site Gigaom is shedding new light on how internet companies – and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) in particular – are aggressively moving into the business of generating their own power supplies. Fehrenbacker took a road trip around North...

Among U.S. solar-related stocks, Real Goods Solar (NASDAQ: RSOL), SolarCity (NASDAQ: SCTY) and SunPower Holdings (NASDAQ: SPWR) saw significant upswings in short interest between the Oct. 15 and Oct. 31 settlement dates. The number of shares sold short in First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) and...