Green Stocks Investing; 50 Ways to love clean energy!!!

Here are several dozen of the top renewable power stocks in the world:

1. First Solar, leading thin-film solar energy company
First Solar Inc (NASDAQ:FSLR)

2. Vestas wind, Denmark-based global wind power leader
Vestas Wind Systems (VWSYF-ADR)

3. Ormat Tech, world-leading geothermal power producer

Ormat Technologies (ORA) official website

4. Acciona, leading European windpower / renewable energy company
Acciona Windpower (ANA.MC)

5. Gamesa Corp, major europe wind energy developer
Gamesa Corp (GAM.MC) english website

6. Suzlon Wind from India, major global wind turbine manufacturer
Suzlon Energy (SUZL) windpower company

7. Applied Materials, emerging thin film solar energy producer

Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) Inc. 

8. Renewable Energy Corp, Norway-based solar energy stock

Renewable Energy Corp (REC)

9. MEMC Electronic, silicon wafer producer
MEMC Electronic Materials (NYSE:WFR)

10. SunPower, manufacturer of high-performance solar electric power technologies
SunPower Corp (NASDAQ: SPWR)

11. Q-Cells, leading German photovltaic solar power company
Q-Cells AG Solar (QCLSF)

12. Energy Conversion, American firm involved in alternative energy generation, energy storage
Energy Conversion Device (ENER)

13. SunTech Power, China-based photovoltaic solar power company
Suntech Power (NYSE:STP) Holdings

14. LDK Solar, quality solar electricity company
LDK Solar (NYSE: LDK) Co

15. Fuel Cell Energy, USA-based developer of commercial-scale fuel cell power plants

FuelCell Energy, Inc.

(NASDAQ:FCEL)

16. Raser Tech, emerging USA geothermal power producer

Raser Technologies (RZ) electric motor / geothermal power developer

17. Clipper Windpower, leading UK-based wind energy stock
Clipper Windpower (CWPR.L) wind turbines

18. Babcock and Brown wind energy division
Babcock & Brown Wind Partners (ASX: BBW BBWPF.PK)

19. Boralex Wind Energy Fund
Boralex Wind Power Income Fund (BPT.UN) 

20. Capstone MicroTurbines, green energy turbine manufacturer

Capstone Turbine (CPST), microturbines for wind, solar, geothermal

21. Sanyo of Japan now solar energy supplier

SANYO Electric Co. (SANYY), Ltd

22. JA Solar, China-based solar cells manufacturer
JA Solar Holdings (NASDAQ: JASO) Co.

23. Yingli Green Energy, promising Chinese solar energy firm
Yingli Green Energy (NYSE:YGE)

24. GT Solar, turnkey manufacturing solutions for photovoltaic industry
GT Solar International (NASDAQ:SOLR)

25. Evergreen Solar, American solar energy supplier / installer
Evergreen Solar (NASDAQ: ESLR) Inc.

26. ReneSola, manufacturer of solar wafers used in solar energy cells
ReneSola (NYSE: SOL) Ltd

27. Canadian Solar, manufcatures solar cells and modules in China
Canadian Solar (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Inc.

28. Trina Solar, Cina-based integrated solar energy products manufacturer
Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) Limited

29. Ener1 develops lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells
Ener1 (AMEX: HEV) Inc.

30. Calpine Corp, major USA owner of geothermal energy plants
Calpine Corp (CPNLQ) geothermal energy plant owner

31. Solarfun Power, manufacturer of solar cells and solar panels in China
Solarfun Power (NASDAQ: SOLF) Holdings

32. Sierra Geothermal, USA geothermal power developer
Sierra Geothermal Power (SRA.V) company website

33. China Sunenergy, a Nanjing, China designer, developer, manufactuer and marketer of solar cells
China Sunergy Co. (NASDAQ: CSUN) Ltd.

34. GreenHunter Energy, US wind farm developer, biodiesel producer

GreenHunter Energy (AMEX:GRH)

35. Valence Tech, manufacturer of high-energy lithium-ion power systems

Valence Technology (NASDAQ: VLNC) Inc.

36. Nevada Power, western USA geothermal energy developer

Nevada Power (NGLPF) geothermal website

37. 5N Plus Inc, supplier of tellurium to First Solar and others
5N Plus (TSE: VNP) Inc.

38. US Geothermal, emerging American geothermal producer

UGTH - U S Geothermal Inc

39. Ballard Power, automotive and stationary fuel cells company

Ballard Power Systems Inc.

(TSE:BLD)

40. Ascent Solar, flexible thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules
Ascent Solar (NASDAQ: ASTI) Tech

41. Western Geopower, emerging North American Geothermal company
Western GeoPower Corp CA; WGP

42. Plug Power USA fuel cell developer

Plug Power Inc.

(NASDAQ:PLUG)

43. Western Wind, BC-based windfarm developer with projects in Arizona and California

Western Wind Energy (WND: TSX.V)

44. Naikun Wind, natural gas and wind power
Naikun Wind Energy (NKW)

45. Beacon Power, developer of solar energy inverters, flywheel energy storage technology
Beacon Power (BCON) energy storage company

46. Hydrogenics Corp, Canada-based fuel cell and hydrogen company

Hydrogenics Corporation

(TSE:HYG)

47. Daystar Tech, thin film deposition technology for solar photovoltaic (PV)DayStar Technologies (NASDAQ: DSTI)

48. Spire Solar, manufacturer of solar power manufacturing systems
Spire Solar (NASDAQ: SPIR)

49. SIMTEK Corp,
SIMTEK Corporation (NADAQ: SMTK)

50. Carmanah Tech, leading manufacturer of solar-powered LED lighting systems
Carmanah Technologies (TSE: CMH) Corporation

More green energy investing links:

Geothermal Energy Producers, geothermal stocks investing

Solar Energy and Renewable Power Stocks

Wind Energy Stocks, Leading wind power companies

THE 3 Top Green Energy Stocks to Consider Buying Now

Investing directly in growth stocks is a high risk activity; medium risk investors should consider acquiring positions in clean energy mutual funds, as these eliminate most individual stock risk and allow investors to benefit from the sector trend.

The near term risk in the clean power sector is continued downward pressure on oil prices, although somewhere in the fall from the current $93 to an estimated $70 a year from now, the sectors will decouple and green stocks will resume their long-term uptrend. Dollar-cost averaging into renewable power stock funds over the next 6 to 9 months would be very prudent, and the more adventurous may want to wade in over the next 3 to 5 months.

If you are a long term equity investor with a time horizon of 5 to 10 years or longer, consult your investment advisor about adding some of these names to your growth stock portfolio:

First Solar (FSLR)

Normally I find this solar energy market leader a bit pricey, but the past few months of downside volatility in USA and global financial markets have really taken the stuffing out of this industry leader. First Solar is considered the Google of the renewable power sector, in that it is by far the dominant player in the global solar photovoltaics industry. Its patented cadmium telluride thin-film solar technology allows FSLR to produce solar panels and modules more inexpensively than competitors, and this advantage has been translated into a healthy global market share. Although there are concerns about the availability of enough tellurium to meet future demand, my feeling is that FSLR has the financial muscle and wherewithal to scare up what it needs, and likely has future versions of its technology in development that require even less tellurium. Clearly overpriced at its 52-week high of $317, today's (03OCT08) close of 163.19 makes me want to revisit this one. Trading at about 44x estimated 2008 earnings and only 23.4x next year's forecasted earnings, there is still risk to be had but solar energy is here to stay and First Solar is the first mover.

Ormat Technologies (ORA)

The world leader in geothermal energy and remote power, Ormat designs, develops, builds, owns and operates geothermal recovered energy-based power plants, usually using equipment that it designs and manufactures. Not as widely known as First Solar, this is exactly the type of quality American company that will benefit under the wise leadership of Barack Obama over the next eight years. When the Obama rally is in full swing, this stock will likely already be much higher than its current price of $31.40 and on the way to surpassing its year high of 57.93. Trading now at just 27.4 times earnings, it may be a long time before you'll see another opportunity to acquire Ormat at these multiples.

Vestas Wind Systems (VWS.CO)

Down from a high of 700 DKK (Danish Kroners), Vestas at 468DKK (up 47 or 11.1% today!) is a blue-green chip investment for the ages. With over 30% of the growing global wind power market, Vestas gets a premium for its high quality wind turbines and is the Mercedes Benz of the wind energy industry. At 39.8 times earnings, conservative investors may find this company still expensive, but there's a price to pay for greatness, and the time to load up on great firms is when there's blood in the streets. Probably the highest quality company in the entire green energy investing sector, it's time to take a look at Vestas.

Investing Bargain of the Decade; Clean Energy Mutual Funds

The slide in oil prices combined with the downside volatility of the stock market in recent weeks has created an extraordinary investment opportunity for long term investors: clean green power funds, renewable energy investment funds, exchange-traded alternative energy funds and other diversified green stock funds. Due to energy security and global warming concerns, these stocks will be in big demand over the next five years, and it is much safer to buy a widely diversified stock fund, even a sector fund, than it is to buy individual stocks. 

A single company's share price may be down because the firm is in trouble and the shares are on their way to zero, but green mutual funds and clean energy closed-end funds are down because of market and sector comnditions, and over time will reflect the longer term potential of the sector and economy at large. With many clean power funds down 30% to 40% now is the time for aggressive investors to buy, and for medium risk investors to begin dollar-cost averavging into these alternative enrgy funds.

Here are a few green energy funds to consider:

Calvert Global Alternative Energy Fund (CGAEX) 

CGAEX at 12.26 is off 35% from its previous year high.

Claymore/MAC Global Solar Index (TAN)

International solar energy index fund down about 35% from the high.

First Trust Global Wind Energy (FAN)

 

Tracks performance of ISE Global Wind Energy Index; down 39%.

First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge US (QCLN)

Index fund tracks USA green energy stocks; off 42%.

Guinness Atkinson Alternative Energy

Down over 40% from the one year high.

Market Vectors Global Alternative Energy ETF (GEX) Trust

Down 34%; formerly Van Eck Fund

New Alternatives Fund (NALFX)

Off 34% from its high.

Powershares Cleantech (PZD) Portfolio

Year's high was 38.02; recently closed at 26.70.

PowerShares Global Wind Energy Portfolio (PWND)

Diversified Wind Power Fund off 40% from the year's high.

PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (AMEX:PBW)

Down over 45% from the 52-week high.