Posted by Windy Admin on June 18th, 2008
A-Power Energy Generation Systems (APWR) hit a 52 week high of 29.50 before settling down to 28.45 at the close on over 3 million shares traded on June 17th and is strong again today in a down market. APWR has been on a tear over the last 3 months gaining over 100%. Is it time for APWR to pull back and take a breather? Not so fast, lets look at some numbers. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, A-Power’s revenue was $32.3 million, an increase of 85.0% from $17.5 million in Q1 2007. The increase was due to continued growth in the Company’s core distributed power generation business and larger product mix. This stock has not been widely followed until recently when some firms started picking it up such as Roth Capital who started it as a Buy a few days ago. Some facts about APWR:
- Based on current demand they believe their new wind turbine plant will be operating at full capacity until mid-2011bringing in over 1 billion in revenues
- APWR will bring online its 180,000 square foot wind turbine assembly facility with the capacity to produce 420 of the 750kW wind turbines and 300 of the 2.5 MW wind turbines each year and expects to begin producing wind turbines at this new facility in the third quarter of this 2008
- China’s wind energy market alone is expected to grow 40 fold to 50 GW of output by 2020, up from just 1.2 GW in 2005
- Q1 2008 Revenue increased 85.0% to $32.3 million from $17.5 million in Q1 2007
- Q1 2008 Net Income increased 79.1% to $2.9 million from $1.6 million in Q1 2007
- Cash balance as of March 31, 2008 approximately $94 million, up from approximately $36 million at the end of 2007
- Bridge loan was repaid in January 2008, Company is now debt-free
- Confirms Company on-track to reach 2008 earnings guidance of $35 to $45 million, or approximately $1.04 to $1.34 per share
If APWR continues to execute and become “best of breed” it could generate 2009 earnings close to $2.00 per share. With a aggressive multiple of 40 for a growth company such as this, it could warrant an $80 pps.
Posted by Windy Admin on June 17th, 2008
A startup named Bluenergy USA has designed a wind turbine that also doubles as a solar collector. Dubbed as a Solarwind Turbine , Plans are underway to locate a manufacturing facility in or near Santa Fe, New Mexico. The company has seemingly solved the “ugly” factor that is currently associated with both Solar Panels and Wind turbines. A comparison of the Solarwind Turbine vs traditional solar and wind in a large home or office application seems to yield favorable results for the product although the data is provided by the company itself so certain factors may be excluded. At $7 per watt, the SolarWind turbine is competitive with traditional solar and wind turbine alternatives. If you are looking to invest in this company, you are going to have to bring your checkbook. It is currently a privately held company that is looking for individual investors willing to part with at least $50,000. You can find out more by visiting theirwebsite
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TRADITIONAL SOLAR |
TRADITIONAL WIND TURBINE |
SOLARWIND™ TURBINE |
| Technology |
Converts sunlight to electricity in solar cells mounted in panel arrays on roofs, the ground or “tracker racks” that follow the optimal angle of the sun. Inverter delivers solar currents as 120/240 VAC |
Wind turns traditional “windmill” blades on horizontal axis mounted on tower. Blades turn generator producing electricity. Inverter delivers generated electricity as 120/240 VAC |
Wind turns the 5 kW Bluenergy Solarwind™ Turbine‘s “double-helix designed” curved wind vanes mounted on a vertical axis and covered with solar cells double-sealed in clear Teflon . Electricity produced by both turning generator and solar cells is merged in an enclosed inverter and delivered as 120/240 VAC. |
| Footprint |
~ 35 150-Watt solar panels cover ~ 500 square feet on the ground or roof. Installation angle determines productivity, (6’-10’ high), or if using sun tracking arrays, requires tracker rack, poles, and concrete base (12-15’ high). |
Horizontal 3-blade propeller requires a 60’ to 140’ high high tower with 3-5 sets of guyed wires, requiring a dedicated 2-5,000 square-foot area. |
The Solarwind™ is self-contained in only 60 square feet. The 5 kW model is 18’ tall and 6’ wide including turbine, generator and inverter. |
| Approximate cost & production |
$9-10/Watt installed or $50,000. Produces 720 kWhrs/month.
(5kW x 6 hrs x 24 days/mo = 720 kWhrs/mo) |
$5-6/Watt installed or $30,000. Produces 840 kWhrs/month.
(av. mean speed 12mph @4kW x 7 hrs x 30 days/mo = 840 kWhrs/mo) |
$7/Watt installed or $35,000. Produces 1,100 kWhrs/month.
(av. mean speed 12mph @3kW x 9 hrs x 30 days/mo = 810 kWhrs/mo from wind + 2 kW x 6.5 hrs x 24 days/mo = 312 kWhrs/mo from sun) |
| Aesthetic & environmental considerations |
Industrial in appearance and occupies valuable land. |
Dominates physical setting, not urban-friendly, produces varying noise levels, and is potentially harmful to birds. |
Dramatic, organic design is an architectural and artistic statement. Scalable size and design elegance enhance rural, residential and urban settings. Silent, harmonious and safe for plant, animal and human life. |
| Production limitations |
No night or overcast production. Diminished with seasonal day-length variations. In sunny New Mexico, production averages 6 hours per clear day, about 24 days per month: ~ 22 % production time (capacity) factor. |
No generation below 7-10 mph wind speed and must be shut down above 45 mph to avoid damage. In breezy New Mexico, production time averages 7 hours per day: ~ 29 % production time (capacity) factor. |
Generator starts at 4 mph with no upper wind speed limit; power rated > 90 mph. Generates with no sun in a breeze, day or night, or with sun on calm sunny days. Solar and wind power is additive and cumulative 24/7: ~ 37 % production time (capacity) factor. |
| Installation & maintenance |
Complex installation of arrays on ground or rooftop with added installation of separate charge controller and inverter to connect to electrical system. Periodic cleaning advised, generally maintenance free. |
Complex installation at 60’ to 140’ requiring 3-5 sets of guyed wires, heavy equipment and crew for installation. Added installation of inverter. Significant, regular maintenance required at height of blades or generator, or complicated tilt-down of tower required. |
Recommended installation on ground requires minimal equipment and crew (no crane), with generator and inverter mounted and sealed in a single 6’ diameter base. Ready to interconnect into building or net-meter into electrical grid. Minimal, easy maintenance. |
Unsubsidized kilowatt hour cost projections
|
Total cost: $50,000.
Projected Total System Output: ~ 216,000 kWhrs.
1 kWhr cost averages: 23 ¢ / kWhr. |
Total cost (including replacing one generator): $48,000.
Projected Total System Output: ~ 252,000 kWhrs.
1 kWhr cost averages: 19 ¢ / kWhr. |
Total cost (including replacing one small generator): $42,000.
Projected Total System Output: ~ 330,000 kWhrs.
1 kWhr cost averages: 13 ¢ / kWhr. |
Posted by Windy Admin on June 16th, 2008
Welcome to windystocks! Our purpose is to provide focused information on the investment potential of wind energy and private and public companies related to wind energy.
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into electricity, often using wind turbines. At the end of last year, 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was 94.1 gigawatts and accounts for approximately 19% of electricity production in Denmark, 9% in Spain and Portugal and 6% in Germany and Ireland (2007 data). Globally, wind power generation increased more than 500% between 2000 and 2007 and is expected to grow to 160 gigawatts.
Most wind power is generated in the form of electricity and large scale wind farms are supply power via electrical grids. Individual turbines can provide electricity to isolated locations. Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, clean, and has a much smaller carbon footprint than traditional energy sources like oil and natural gas. Wind turbines come in a variety of sizes, depending upon the use of the electricity. The large, utility-scale turbine described above may have blades over 40 meters long, meaning the diameter of the rotor is over 80 meters which is almost as long as a football field. The turbines might be mounted on towers 80 meters tall and produce 1.8 megawatts of power (1.8 MW or 1800 kilowatts, 1800 kW), supply enough electricity for 600 homes, and cost over 1.5 million dollars! Wind turbines designed to supply part of the electricity used by a home or business are much smaller and less costly. A residential- or farm-sized turbine may have a rotor up to 15 meters (50 feet) in diameter and be mounted on a metal lattice tower up to 35 meters (120 ft) tall. These turbines may cost from as little as a few thousand dollars for very small units up to perhaps $40,000-$80,000.
WindyStocks covers public trading companies that are involved in the design, manufacture and sale of Wind Energy such as the following
A-Power Generation Systems Ltd (APWR)
Zoltek (ZOLT)
Broadwind Energy Inc (BWEI)
AES Inc (AES)
