Solar industry earnings season begins on Wednesday when SunPower (SPWR) announces fourth quarter results after the market closes. This is a key report, not just for SunPower, because we'll be able to learn a lot about how the industry is doing from this one report. 

SunPower is the one company with exposure to residential, commercial, and utility scale solar and also sells into every major market around the world. We'll be able to see how Canadian Solar (CSIQ 5.39%) did in Japan, if Trina Solar's (NYSE: TSL) margins will improve in Europe, and if JinkoSolar (JKS 14.76%) will see as much demand as we expect in China. 

Mike Klesta talked to solar analyst Travis Hoium about what we should look for from this report and earnings season in general.