Renewable energy is the key to overcoming our dependency on fossil fuels. The fuels that have supplied the bulk of our energy requirements over the last century, oil, gas and coal have destabilized the geo-politic landscape and added to the problems of global warming. Ultimately these fuels are ‘solar power’ but not renewable in our lifetime.

When we look at solar energy stocks we mean stocks in companies and technologies that are able to convert the energy streaming directly from the sun into useable energy resources as opposed to that which is stored in some other form first such as bio-mass.

These alternative energy sources will help to stabilize global warming and suppress the destabilizing effect of oil and gas price fluctuations on our economies. Until now the will to go ahead with development of renewable energy on a mass scale to replace fossil fuel energy has held back these technologies. Now the shackles are off and the ingenuity of science has been let loose to maximize the returns. To this add the subsidies from governments that will allow for the industry to grow at an unprecedented pace.

So now is the time for green investors to stake their claim in the top 10 solar power energy stocks. Stocks listed by current market capitalization.

• First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $10.02b
• SunPower Corporation (SPWRA/B) $3.1b
• Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (STP) $2.1b
• Yingli Green Energy (YGE) $1.35b
• LDK Solar (LDK) $970m
• Trina Solar Ltd. (TSL) $738m
• JA Solar Holdings Co. (JASO) $580m
• Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) $492m
• Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ENER) $472m
• ReneSola (SOL) $352m