First...the sectors rate of growth on a comparable basis...

Jan 2nd 2008

"Growing by an impressive average of 48 per cent each year since 2002, photovoltaic production has been doubling every two years, making it the world's fastest-growing energy source."

Changes in solar technology making solar more viable to contribute supply from source to the mainframe large scale power grids on a cost effective basis-this is the most effective way to monetize your technology on large scale basis by the way if you can bring your costs to produce energy inline with mainstream existing sources...and if they are carbon producing...eventually possibly replacing them..if you can bring your costs down to a competitive basis then you can start to see economies of scale come in...and you need scale to compete in this space...solar will be mainstream as the prices come down...inline with coal like the quote says...competitive with coal-fired electricity instead of "niche"... ...within 2yrs time...when they can compete with coal-they won't need subsidies in the sector anymore.

Jan 2nd 2008.

"The Earth Policy Institute estimates the average price for a photovoltaic module excluding installation has dropped from almost $US100 a watt in 1975 to less than $US4 ($A4.60).
With expanding polysilicon supplies, average prices are projected to drop to $A2.30 a watt by 2010.
Dr Dorn said production costs for thin-film photovoltaic cells were expected to reach $A1.15 a watt by 2010, "at which point solar PV will become competitive with coal-fired electricity".

And you got to just love this...efficency rating improvements moving to 20percent are said to "revolutionize the industry"...well APV is late reporting on its 18 percent plus efficency improvement targets being hit-and their interim efficency rates will parallel if not exceed the 20percent markers that are being lauded about as "revolutionizing the industry"...

Jan 2nd 2008

"Wafer-thin solar sliver-cell technology, developed at the Australian National University, is predicted to revolutionise the uptake of solar energy by increasing solar cell efficiency by up to 20 per cent."

At $2.00 and change for a company that will be in production
April 2008-with a que full of news?...when TIMINCO moved from .25 to $23.00 plus/plus just a week or so ago????

This is a growth story in a slowing growth rate for the western economies...and the move to renewable energy sources is a secular growth story in a secular bull market run not a cyclical one...secular one are long term investment trends...cyclcial trends are just tradeable by comparison...so think about where your placing your "bets" in this sector...when the upside here based on the $1Billion dollar revenue targets in 2 to 3yrs time from nothing last year and to $150million this year alone...think about the certainty of that before you start investing in the newest hyped IPO-like PWR-it takes a long time to develop product then produce it and then market it-let alone do continuing ongoing RandD to differentiate yourself in the market place...Branding is very important as well less anyone forget...but the space is huge...untapped and in a lot of places near virgin...with a lot of market share by many-still waiting to be carved out.

January 2nd 2008

http://nyngan.yourguide.com.au/articles/1154408.html?src=topstories