France

Market changes and an investment of $800 million to $1 billion over 15 years could bring more than 100 GW of geothermal energy to the US grid by 2050, according to a study recently released by a multi-disciplinary research group at MIT. That investment, is less than the cost of a single “new generation” coal-powered plant, and the amount of energy is equivalent to 200 coal-fired power plants or 100 new nuclear power plants.

For the solar energy industry, it seems like the bad news just keeps on coming.

DuPont, the leading U.S. chemical maker, and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co., a top Chinese PV panel manufacturer, reached a $100 million deal this week with the goal of boosting supplies of solar-energy materials and promoting broader adoption of solar energy worldwide.

Solar energy equipment manufacturer Satcon Technology Corporation has unveiled a restructuring initiative which includes cutting its global workforce by 35%.

Japan is slated to announce a new national solar mandate that would see all new buildings and houses be built with solar installations by 2030.

All-electric garbage trucks will soon be picking up trash along the streets of a Paris suburb. Courbevoie will receive the very first super quiet, zero-emission truck on May 12, 2011.

As the global oil industry realizes record profits amid rising gas prices, European oil producer Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) has offered as much as $1.4 billion for a 60% interest in SunPower Corporation (Nasdaq: SPWRA), the biggest solar-cell maker in the U.S.

Shares of French-based renewable energy company EDF Energies Nouvelles S.A. (Paris: EEN.PA) closed up 10% today after French state-controlled power giant Electricite de France SA (Paris: EDF.PA) announced on Friday it will launch a €1.5 billion offer for the 50% of EDF Energies Nouvelles it does not hold. Electricite de France will offer €40 a share in cash or 13 EDF shares for 11 EDF Energies Nouvelles shares. (€1 = $1.44 April 11)

The March 11 earthquake and tsunami off Sendai, Japan -- and the resulting nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant -- transformed a strong performance for Q1 equities markets into a gangbusters performance. Renewable energy stocks -- especially wind and solar power companies -- were huge beneficiaries of investors betting that these sectors will fill the void created by a flight from nuclear. 

Shares of solar and wind power inverter company Power-One, Inc. (NASDAQ: PWER) were down slightly at mid-session today after falling 21 percent Friday. After the market closed Thursday, Power-One reported spectacular profits, revenues and margins for Fiscal 2010 and Q4 2010, but issued cautious guidance for the first half of 2011 that scared investors.