Forging China-North America renewable energy cooperation is good for reducing the world’s carbon emissions. Creating cross-Pacific solar business ties is also smart from a business point of view.

Business leaders, politicians, everyone involved in China-North America energy connections needs to focus on how mutually profitable these solar connections are. Increased sales, better access to funds is a better incentive than “it’s good for the planet”.

The latest example of a North American solar company benefitting from finding an Asian partner is Ascent Solar Technologies. The Colorado-based company is a thin-film panel producer that’s lost 64 percent of its value this year.

Yesterday it climbed the most in more than four years after announcing a licensing and equity deal with TFG Radiant Group, a joint venture of the Chinese construction and real estate company Radiant Group and the Singapore-based investment company Tertius Financial Group.

The Chinese side is clearly interested in Ascent’s manufacturing technology and the deal includes a licensing agreement. In return, Ascent gets an influx of capital and potential sales in the Asian construction industry.

Ascent climbed 48 cents, or 65 percent, to $1.21 in Nasdaq Stock Market trading, the company’s biggest gain since March 2007.

CHRIS BROWN