Akeena Solar (nasdaq: AKNS - news - people ) soared 43.8%, or $3.49, to close at $11.45 after the solar power systems designer announced it penned a licensing agreement with Suntech Power (nyse: STP - news - people ) to distribute its Andalay home solar panel system in Europe, Japan and Australia.

According to Jesup & Lamont Securities analyst Brian Yerger, the deal was driven by Andalay’s lower installation cost.

Yerger, whose parent company Empire Financial Holding has done business with Akeena, added that Suntech is a logical partner to license outside of the U.S. market because it had previously signed an agreement with Suntech to manufacture 10 megawatts of its Andalay products in 2008.