Kenmare Resources plc

This will be known as the year a small group of companies exploring for “rare earth elements”, known in the red-hot niche sector as REEs, dramatically outperformed all other clean tech and energy efficiency companies, as well as all other sectors of the stock markets.

Shares of several companies pursing REEs, which are critical ingredients in wind turbines, electric vehicles, thin-film photovoltaic (PV) solar system and high-efficiency lighting, have increased more than two or three times in 2010. Examples: Molycorp, Inc., (NYSE: MCP) +394 percent, Lynas Corporation Limited (ASX: LYC.AX) +260 percent, Avalon Rare Metals, Inc. (TSE: AVL.TO) (AMEX: AVL) +125 percent , Rare Element Resources Ltd. (AMEX: REE) (CVE: RES.V) +361 percent, China Shen Zhou Mining & Resources Inc. (AMEX: SHZ) +1200 percent; and penny stock Focus Metals Inc. (CDNX: FMS.V) +232%.