Last week’s OPEC meeting turned out to be quite a bit bumpier than expected as members argued over a number of points, with the decision being delayed by days. Looking ahead, OPEC’s job is going to continue to get more and more difficult because the 20th-century energy model is headed for the scrap heap.
Pulling fossil fuels out of the ground and piping them off to refineries for conversion into something to burn in combustion engines is quickly becoming an outmoded model for powering human culture around the world. However, counterintuitively, the process of killing off that dying model stands to drive oil prices higher as investment in new production capacity dwindles and output is politically constrained.
The upshot of pain at the pump will no doubt be more political pressure to subsidize the transition to a new model.
The new model will involve a diverse array of renewable energy sources likely led by solar conversion. We will also use wind, nuclear, biomass, geothermal, and tidal, among others. But it’s simplest to think in terms of solar.
Imagine a world where the top of every building is covered in solar panels. Power flows from the sun into photovoltaic cells, and is then piped along insulated conduction pathways into electric vehicle charging stations, homes, and fuel storage cells. No emissions. Nothing used up. Nothing soiling the air and water. And yet, plenty of power to go around.
Right now, we are a long way from that ideal model in manifest form. But we have made appreciable progress over recent years. And government spending is picking up as a tailwind now that public resistance is low, and investments can yield tangible results.
This transition, from the fossil fuel model to the emerging renewable energy paradigm, represents one of the most powerful secular investment trends on the menu today for investors, driving interest in stocks like Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ), Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:GSFI), FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FCEL), Sunrun Inc (NASDAQ:RUN), Plug Power Inc (NASDAQ:PLUG), and JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE:JKS).
Below, we take a closer look at recent catalysts driving the action for some of the more interesting names in this group.
Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) is a strong performer in the solar energy arena, especially internationally. The company has the largest cumulative market share in Japan’s feed-in-tariff auction program since its launch in 2017.
The company engages in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic modules and provides solar energy solutions. It operates through the Module and System Solutions (MSS) and Energy segments. The MSS segment involves in the design, development, manufacture, and sales of solar power products and solar system kits, and operation and maintenance services. The Energy segment comprises primarily of the development and sale of solar projects, operating solar power projects and the sale of electricity.
Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ), continuing its dominance in Japan, recently announced that it has been awarded 86 MWp in Japan’s 8th solar energy auction, accounting for the largest share of the total capacity auctioned.
According to the company’s release, the total of 86 MWp includes three projects located in the Tohoku region: an 80 MWp project in Miyagi Prefecture, a 3 MWp project located in Fukushima Prefecture and a 3 MWp project located in Aomori Prefecture. Once constructed, these projects will enter into a 20-year power purchase agreement with Tohoku Power Electric Company at a weighted average rate of ¥10.77 ($0.098) per kWh. The Company expects the projects to reach commercial operation between the years of 2024 and 2026.
The context for this announcement is a bit of a bid, with shares acting well over the past five days, up about 7% in that timeframe.
Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) generated sales of $1.1B, according to information released in the company’s most recent quarterly financial report. That adds up to a sequential quarter-over-quarter growth rate of 4.7% on the top line. In addition, the company is battling some balance sheet hurdles, with cash levels struggling to keep up with current liabilities ($1.5B against $3.9B, respectively).
Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:GSFI) is a potential disruptor looking to shake up the solar marketplace. The Company targets commercial property owners with a surplus of rooftop or sky-facing square footage space for installation of photovoltaic systems to harness energy access at prices outcompeting local utility pricing.
GSFI uses solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) or equipment leasing arrangements with the property owners, and benefits from marginal efficiencies as well as various federal or state tax credits, regulatory agency rebates, and long-term revenue streams generated from the sale of the harnessed electricity.
Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:GSFI) also just stepped into the EV power infrastructure space with its latest announcement, making the stock perhaps the best example of a company targeting the energy paradigm transition discussed above in the introductory section of this article.
Specifically, GSFI most recently announced a new joint venture with Premiere Empire Energy to provide electric charging stations to both company’s clients.
According to the company’s release, Premiere provides EV charging management solutions made easy with premium customer service to its clients. It allows their customers to take advantage of valuable rebates available under federal and state sustainability programs; to control access, set pricing and review real-time data on station usage and performance; and to get help when needed, day or night, with 24/7 support for their customers and their drivers/customers.
James DiPrima, Chief Executive Officer of Green Stream Holdings stated, “This JV should be a substantial revenue driver for both companies. We will build solar and now electric car charging stations collaborating with Premier and our mutual clients. All the while we will be helping to reduce their carbon footprint. We will split net profits on a 50/50 basis. Our plan is to deploy this model nationwide, giving consumers energy saving options and helping gas stations reduce their carbon footprint.”
Green Stream Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:GSFI) is moving toward initial revenue growth, but shares are seeing some strong interest in recent action. The stock is up about 10% in the past week and over 75% since carving out a key pivot low near the $0.04 level in May.
FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FCEL) is a staple in the EV supplier space. The company designs, manufactures, sells, installs, operates, and services stationary fuel cell power plants for distributed power generation.
The company offers SureSource product line based on carbonate fuel cell technology in various configurations, including on-site power, utility grid support, distributed hydrogen, and micro-grid, as well as multi-megawatt applications; and SureSource Recovery power plants for natural gas pipeline applications.
FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FCEL) most recently announced the completion of site construction and commencement of commercial operation for its 1.4 megawatt SureSource 1500™ biofuels fuel cell project with the City of San Bernardino Municipal Water Department (SBMWD) in California. FuelCell Energy’s platform eliminates the need for another flare in California. FuelCell Energy offers the only fuel cell power generation platform approved by the California Air Resource Board (CARB) for use with on-site biofuels. The commercial operation of this project adds 1.4 megawatts to the Company’s generation fleet portfolio, bringing the total to 34 megawatts.
“We are excited to begin commercial operation of our platform in San Bernardino,” commented Jason Few, President and Chief Executive Officer, FuelCell Energy. “We are executing on our promise to the City of San Bernardino Municipal Water Department, delivering 1.4 megawatts of clean power and, importantly, contributing to cleaner air quality in the region by capturing and using the on-site methane gas that was otherwise being flared. Utilizing our utility-scale fuel cell power and heat platform, coupled with our proprietary engineered biogas treatment system, the continuous power profile of our platforms makes them an excellent fit with wastewater treatment plants.”
Even in light of this news, FCEL has had a rough past week of trading action, with shares sinking something like -5% in that time. That said, chart support is nearby, and we may be in the process of constructing a nice setup for some movement back the other way.
FuelCell Energy Inc (NASDAQ:FCEL) managed to rope in revenues totaling $14M in overall sales during the company’s most recently reported quarterly financial data — a figure that represents a rate of top line growth of -26.1%, as compared to year-ago data in comparable terms. In addition, the company has a strong balance sheet, with cash levels far exceeding current liabilities ($156.5M against $56.2M).
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE:JKS) is another interesting solar player with aspirations for a stronger foothold in terms of exposure to Chinese investors. The company engages in the design, development, production and marketing of photovoltaic products, and solar system integration services.
JKS specifically focuses on the vertically integrated solar power products manufacturing business, from silicon ingots, wafers, and cells to full solar modules.
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE:JKS) recently announced that the application documents regarding a potential initial public offering and listing of the shares of Jinko Solar Co., Ltd., a principal operating subsidiary of JinkoSolar, had been submitted to and received by the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
According to Jiangxi Jinko’s relevant initial public offering documents, it plans to issue no more than 2,666,666,666 shares, assuming that the over-allotment option is not exercised. The Offering Shares will represent 10% to 25% of the total share capital of Jiangxi Jinko upon completion of this offering. Currently, JinkoSolar owns approximately 73.28% of Jiangxi Jinko’s shares. Following this initial public offering, JinkoSolar would hold approximately 54.96% of Jiangxi Jinko’s shares (calculated assuming 2,666,666,666 shares will be issued in this offering).
The context for this announcement is a bit of a bid, with shares acting well over the past five days, up about 17% in that timeframe.
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE:JKS) generated sales of $1.2B, according to information released in the company’s most recent quarterly financial report. That adds up to a sequential quarter-over-quarter growth rate of -13.8% on the top line. In addition, the company is battling some balance sheet hurdles, with cash levels struggling to keep up with current liabilities ($2.2B against $4.9B, respectively).
