Shares of First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR) of Phoenix, Arizona hit an all-time high today on an announcement of 658 MW in new orders between now and 2012.

The company gained $23.05, almost 24 percent, to close at $119.34.

Included in First Solar's new agreements are a variety of long term contracts with renewable energy producers around the world, including with EDF Energies Nouvelles, a renewable energy producer specializing in wind, hydro, biomass, and solar power plants, and Sechilienne-Sidec, specializing in thermal, wind, and solar power plants.

Also included is a multi-year agreement with SunEdison, a provider of solar generated electricity to commercial, municipal, and utility customers in North America.

SunEdison is to deploy First Solar modules in Ontario, Canada, which has adopted a feed-in tariff for solar energy.

First Solar also announced it will build an additional manufacturing plant in Malaysia with an annual capacity of 120 Megawatts. The plant is to come on line in the first half of 2009.

First Solar manufactures solar modules using a thin film semiconductor process.

China's Trina Solar (NYSE: TSL) jumped $9.29, or 16 percent, to $67.37 on word it signed contracts with a German company and three Italian companies, and will deliver 88 megawatts to 99 megawatts of modules to them over the next three years.

Initial shipments have been made on each of the contracts, the company said.

"Our recent contract wins demonstrate our success in targeting large and medium-sized companies, including PV system integrators, distributors and wholesalers," said Arturo Herrero, Trina Solar's Director of Sales & Marketing.

"These contract wins are also an important step for Trina Solar to continue gaining brand recognition in some of the most strategic solar PV markets in Europe and positions Trina Solar well to further expand its presence in these important markets."

Publicly traded solar companies were broadly up across the sector, riding the tide.

JA Solar shares rose $5.51, or 14.8 percent, to $42.76.

Yingli Green Energy gained $2.46, or 15.9 percent, to $17.96. The stock, which began trading last month, reached a high of $18.41.

LDK Solar was up $2.84, or 8.5 percent, to $36.37. Shares peaked at $36.51, their highest since trading began last month.