Alternative Energy Stocks

Astris Energi Inc. (ASRNF) announced that it has delivered and completed the customer training on the first Model E8 Portable Power Generator covered by its value added reseller (VAR) agreement signed in May 2004 with Alternate Energy Corporation (ARGY). The E8 Generator is the latest in a series of Astris power generators driven by Astris' AFC technology. Nominally rated at 2.4kW and providing 48 VDC power at 50 amperes of current, the E8 is targeted at stationary applications such as uninterrupted power supply, backup applications for commercial and military users, and emergency site power. Its electrical efficiency is...

ENDESA (ELE) will have another 78.4 MW of new wind power capacity in Andalusia once subsidiary Endesa Cogeneracion y Renovables (ECYR) completes its new wind complex in Tarifa, Cadiz province, comprising the five wind farms of La Manga, Rio Almodovar, El Ruedo, El Gallego and Cortijo de Iruelas. The complex is wholly contained in the town of Tarifa, and has 98 wind turbines: 42 Made AE-56 and the other 56 Made AE-59, both designs being 60 metres tall with unit generating capacity of 800 kV. The complex required an investment of Euro 75 million.

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced that the company intends to install two GenSite(TM) hydrogen generators under two recently awarded programs sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Plug Power will partner with award winner American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD) and Homeland Energy to provide the refueling infrastructure necessary for fuel cell vehicles, including two Honda FCX's recently leased by the State of New York.

BusinessWeek Online has published an interesting article that discusses the January Auto Show and the future of H2 cars. When it comes to hydrogen vehicles, most car companies are counting on little under-the-hood chemical refineries known as fuel cells. Trouble is, a fuel-cell system powerful enough for a car would add roughly $100,000 to sticker prices today. And then there's an even tougher problem: Where would drivers get the fuel? Fewer than 100 filling stations in the whole world now pump hydrogen. So it could be a couple of decades before fuel-cell cars become popular enough to make...

Evergreen Solar Inc (ESLR) and Q-Cells AG, the world's largest independent manufacturer of crystalline silicon solar cells, today announced the formation of a joint venture to undertake the development of a 30-megawatt solar wafer, cell and module manufacturing plant in Thalheim, Germany, which is approximately 100 miles from Berlin. Construction of the facility is currently expected to begin in early 2005 and take approximately 12 months to complete. The total capital cost for all property, plant and equipment for the 30-megawatt factory is expected to be approximately $75 million. Evergreen Solar will own 75.1% of the joint venture; Q-Cells...

Distributed Energy Systems Corp (DESC) announced a contract award valued at nearly $1.2 million with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Research Foundation, or UNLVRF. This is a follow-on to the Phase I contract under which Proton and the UNLVRF team are developing a hydrogen filling station capable of operating on solar power for installation in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Universal Communication Systems Inc (UCSY) announced today that the companies are jointly donating 1,000 Portable Solar Chargers for the International Aid Workers and delegations leaving for the areas affected in the recent Tsunami disaster.

ENER1 INC (ENEI) announced it has signed letters of intent to acquire Giner Electrochemical Systems, LLC (GES), a privately held company located in Newton, Massachusetts, that specializes in the development of fuel cell technologies and products. GES is currently owned by Giner, Inc. and General Motors Corp.(GM). GES will maintain its existing GM multi-year contracts (totaling several million dollars) and its broad research and development relationship with GM going forward.

Samsung Corporation placed an order for 1.5 megawatts of microturbines with Capstone Turbine Corp (CPTC) in a deal worth more than $1 million. Samsung Corporation, the Korean distributor of Capstone MicroTurbine(TM) combined heat and power systems, will install four C60 models at their Samsung Plaza headquarters, 11 at a hospital and 10 at a high-rise apartment complex. Two Capstone C30 units will be deployed in a biogas application project.

Power Integrations Inc (POWI) announced that its EcoSmart technology enables manufacturers to earn the Energy Star label for their external power supplies. An expansion of the Energy Star program announced this week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency addresses external power supplies, the adapters that power such products as cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras, PDAs and many other household and office devices.

Spire Corp (SPIR) announced the completion of Building Integrated Photovoltaic ("BIPV") Systems at the Bethel New Life Lake-Pulaski Commercial Center. The commercial center, located on the West Side of Chicago, will house a day care facility, commercial enterprises, a clinic and employment services. The Lake-Pulaski Commercial Center has two BIPV systems. One, approximately 25 kilowatts in size, is a roof-tile system; the other is a 7-kilowatt awning system. The BIPV awning system is the first commercial building appearance of clear back-sheet photovoltaic modules locally manufactured by Spire Solar for a greater appeal to aesthetics. The awnings will improve the...

ZAP (ZAPZ) unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered pickup as well as a new lithium battery technology at the Consumer Electronics Show. ZAP is forming a new division of the Company to focus on advanced energy technologies alongside its efforts to market advanced transportation. ZAP's fuel cell technology partner, Anuvu Incorporated, converted the Nissan Frontier 4-door pick-up truck on display at CES. An innovative hybrid fuel cell system powers the vehicle on hydrogen and electricity.

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has been successful in its offer to acquire Stuart Energy Systems Corp (SRNYF). 31,382,226 Stuart Energy shares, representing approximately 86% of the issued and outstanding Stuart Energy shares (80% on a fully diluted basis), have been deposited to the Offer. The Offer was made at an exchange ratio of 0.74 Hydrogenics shares for every Stuart Energy share.

ZAP (ZAPZ) is at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to unveil its new battery system to one of the world's largest events for the electronics industry. A pioneer in electric cars, scooters, bicycles and other advanced transportation technologies, ZAP is establishing an energy division for the advanced energy technologies it has been developing for cars and packaging it for the electronics industry.

USAToday.com has an article discussing the perils of wind energy and the ecological effects to local bird wildlife. After years of study but little progress reducing bird kills, environmentalists have sued to force turbine owners to take tough corrective measures. The companies, at risk of federal prosecution, say they see the need to protect birds. The biggest concern is the Altamont pass near San Francisco. Altamont Pass bird kills have been known for years, but turbine owners and federal regulators ignored them except to urge more research, says Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity....

At my real job, a group of us have a yearly stock picking contest. Some years I have performed well, others have been terrible (last year my total performance for my picks was a miserable -13%.) The winner of 2004 was up over 50%. Her method, spread out the newspaper, take 3 M&M candies and throw them up in the air. She picked the 3 stocks the candies landed on. The rules of our little contest are simple. Pick three stocks that trade for over $5. We buy at the close on the first trading day of the...