Despite the recent economic downturn and drop in oil prices, the skies are still sunny for solar energy. Solyndra, a California-based thin-film solar panel producer, has a staggering $1.2 billion worth of upcoming contracts, and it recently announced another monster deal with panel-installing firm GeckoLogic for $250 million.

Thin-film photovoltaics have been a hot prospect for generating carbon-free energy, thanks to the wide variety of situations where they can be used. Buildings, ships, cars and even iPods could potentially benefit from the technology. Some of the most notable solar firms, such as First Solar, have gained impressive profits from the technology.

Solyndra's success, along good returns from other solar companies, reflects continued interest in the clean energy sector from investors and from increasingly cash-strapped consumers. It's reassuring news, especially in the wake of predictions that decreased prosperity would snuff much of the current interest in sustainability across the developed world.