Nanosolar almost open for business

Revolutionary solar technology?

Despite a shortage of polysilicon, solar power seems to be the new, growing darling of the alternative energy movement - at least in terms of equities.

Earier today, CNBC marveled at the uptick in price of a number of solar company stocks as a number of ethanol company stocks dropped. Then CNBC later followed that news up with a story on Nanosolar.

Back in June 2006, I blogged on this company's plans to develop one of the world's largest solar factories, and that factory is now close to opening. Not only is the opening of a such a large solar factory big news, but the nanotechnology-driven solar panels that the factory will produce is even bigger news.

Printable solar panels, spray on solar film - the applications are almost endless, which is probably why the company's products are already sold out for the first year. Even more alarming, Nanosolar believes their product is going to be very close to price-competitiveness with grid electricity, and a lot of investors seem to believe in that possibility.

Thus far the company has attracted more than 100,000 million in funding. Let's hope reality matches the hype.