Greentech Media

Yingli signs a secretive silicon contract, while SunPower opens Korea's largest ingot-pulling factory. Still, analysts say prices are likely to remain high for new entrants.

The EPA raised the amount of renewable fuel that must be included in the national gasoline mix in 2008. But it's far below the amount already being voluntarily blended into the country's gasoline.

An Australian agency invests in Smart Storage, which plans to mix lead-acids and supercapacitors to make batteries that charge faster and last longer. It's the latest sign of a growing investor appetite for green battery technologies.

Solar-concentrating startup raises another $11.6M, bringing its total capital to $95.6M. And Micrel and Solsonica foray from semiconductors into solar.

China Sunergy's stock slides after missing analyst expectations again and IPCC synthesis report summary underlines reasons for environmental concern. Meanwhile, Aptera introduces its alternative vehicle.

Khosla-backed Kovio emerges with a more energy-efficient approach to making transmitters.

The commercial vehicles are part of an initiative to reduce emissions and raise fuel economy. The announcement comes as California sues the EPA to try to tighten emissions regulations for transportation.

In other news, Wacker and Yingli beat the Street and McBee Strategic's CEO claims the U.S. will get an energy bill after some fierce haggling from both sides of the political aisle.

Schott Solar begins production of amorphous-silicon films at its 33-megawatt plant in Germany, while Oerlikon announces it will double its production capacity and First Solar beats expectations for the third quarter. The American Wind Energy Association raises its forecast for new installations this year to 4,000 megawatts from 3,000 megawatts.

Startup says it can make bioplastics from carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Hydrogen and fuel-cell company buys its second battery-charging company, this one focused on electric vehicles and hybrids.

As industry margins get squeezed, companies get policy support from the likes of Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. In other news, energy-management firm Comverge misses earnings expectations and U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton aims for greentech hearts.

LED Lighting Fixtures grabs $16.5 million in funding. In other news, Canada-based International Energy starts a research-and-development collaboration with the University of California at Berkeley to make oil from algae.

Smart-metering company, anticipated to be the 'bellwether' of the energy-management sector, falls 12 cents short of Wall Street.

Chinese company says it will manufacture solar panels in the United States. Meantime, KiOR and Serious Materials close Series A and B, respectively.

Chevron and NREL team up to advance algae for fuels, while battery-material company Atraverda pulls in a second round amid skyrocketing lead prices. In other news, Singapore announces a clean-energy fund.

Financing will help bring the company's energy-saving software to market and green business focused research and new-media company Cleantech Group raises $10M.

Project Better Place plans to build out electric-vehicle infrastructure while GM doles out $250 million for an alternative-vehicle technology center in China, Schott and Wacker to build $72-million solar-wafer-manufacturing facility, and LDK and other solar stocks rise as oil prices reach another record.

EverQ readies for an IPO, DayStar raises $68.8 million in its stock debut and MEMC stock jumps 20 percent. Meantime, Conergy stock plunges nearly 30 percent.

Venture Vehicles says two-seater hybrid will hit streets in 2009. Energy-efficient integrated circuits and wind power get $26M and $23M, respectively.

At the Cleantech Group's conference in Toronto, a wide range of startups vie for first and second rounds of venture-capital funding.