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There is competition for making 3D solar cells:
http://www.bloosolar.com/technology/index.php
I have my own thoughts on Bloo Solar - but I am keen to see what others think!
Interesting 'research' technique there!
I can compare it with an Australian experience when I was obtaining quotes for a local sports club solar system:
- one guy just did a lot of swearing and said he does not do grid connected solar anymore
- one company does letter box drops offering a free 'energy audit' that is in actuality merely a chance for them to pitch there solar products; also this company does not provide quotes ; only contracts"
- another company offers reasonable quality systems with good pricing on the net but their idea of quote is just a price... fairly sure the intention was to actually ship cheaper products
- another company I clearly advised that a tier one quality inverter was required and yet their quotation was for a cheap inferior product
- the two other quotes I got were in the OK category as far as good service goes
Let us all hope SUNworks continues to offer superior service!!
In that case be sure to tell us if/when Solar3D has reached oversold territory....
As to the question of global expansion: a bit early & speculative to worry about in my view
- of course the 3D cell will be a global product but probably in panels not directly marketed by Solar3D
- for the solar installer side of the business: well there is plenty of scope for growth in the US
Yes I guess hedging could be described as a form of "counter investing" - often used to protect you from / reduce losses if "the market" moves unfavorably.
Given that SLTD's share price has moved up - a simple hedge is to sell down some of your holding - of course, you are right - us "believers" won't do that!.
1 million ? I wish.........
No my position is less that 100,000 shares. (also wish I had moved more money into US dollars earlier when the A$ was higher...)
Interesting questions my Canadian friend:
- by "hedge" I assume this is the investment context and is meant to consider that SLTD is speculative - and the possibility still remains that our entire investment could be lost?
Answer:
- doesn't really matter - as long as you only invest what you can afford to lose
- invest in other spec stocks, you don't expect all to well but you hope one or a few will do really well
- write SLTD off as a tax loss if worse comes to worse
How will SLTD expand globally?
Need to think more on this one!
In other words "your guess is as good as ours" ....
We all know SLTD has great speculative potential - indeed the company was the bait that got me to the US penny stocks.
I do not agree a "patent is all important". Not saying that a patent is unimportant though. The granting of patents is not something that S3D can control and in itself no guarantee that production is feasible.
The next near term step is the sign, deal and delivery of the SunWorks acquisition which if it goes through in January will be a vote of confidence in S3D - transforming the company from a speculative tech start-up to a profitable operation. Note too long to wait on this test.
Also, hopefully, not too long to wait on the "manufacturing prototype" which should provide a fairly definitive test of whether the solar cell is bogus or not.
Agreed - PR was a puff piece generally reiterating what we already know (or assume) should be happening in 2014.
Still does present a bit of a plan outline against which we can monitor progress. Of course we would all like something more solid and detailed but that simply may not be possible at this stage.
Interesting post.
My 2c is on S3D. A few notes:
Wasn't that impressed with last PR - all that PR said was SUNworks is great - when we already knew this anyway.
I had also thought of the "dark side" to the acquisition i.e. could be because the CEO knows or senses there is no commercialization prospect. Of course the more positive scenario is much preferred!
Manfacturing Partner - well one needs to be found to start with but I see no reason to stop there! Imagine license per panel to most of the industry...
Production can it fail: YES because it hasn't happened yet and until it does we can only speculate ...
Conclusion:
S3D remains a great ride as we eagerly await more info on the solar cell development.
Storage Matters:
The SLTD board is both educational and entertaining - Yay!
My Friend - I think you need to research a bit more widely and think a little "outside the square" on storage. Consider :-
- the grid is not available everywhere: think the boonies, the sticks, the Outback, Africa...
- the grid can be vulnerable to natural disaster
- the grid can be consumer unfriendly especially under bad government policies and/or unenlightened utilities
- in New Zealand an enlightened utility already offers a cost effective storage solution (admittedly I think this is still only on a trial basis)
Also though batteries suitable for solar storage are generally costly, big and heavy - I think "cutting edge" storage is closer to commercialization than you think.
Personally - as far as new tech goes I would prefer JN to stay focused on getting the solar cell into production for the time being. All storage companies I know are either large companies or well funded by venture capital (i.e. not yet listed). That means they would present difficulties for acquisition.
However: if someone knows of an awesome cutting edge electricity storage company close to commercialization then I am listening...
Hello My Canadian Friend
Agree with most of the points you make as always.
I would add:
Technology often takes longer to develop and is generally a lot more complex in the details than in the explanatory power-points than one expects - so probably not just waiting on patents that has caused delays.
Don't (necessarily) agree the next step is to acquire an inverter company - for instance might make more sense for the panel production company(s) to partner with one. Also would love to know what those companies "on the verge..." are!
Do agree on the potential and expect growth outside California could be achieved by acquiring further installer companies (which seems to be the plan).
Anyways: SLTD is sure a fun ride!!!!
Bullish on US Solar?
Notice Mr Nelson is extremely bullish on US solar installations.
Being in Australia it is hard to get a feel for the US market and I was wondering what others thoughts might be.
Thanks mate !!
All sounded pretty good to me.
Personally I wouldn't mind if they were acquired at a 1000% plus gain - that's just how the business world works - besides we may get shares in the acquirer as part of the deal.
Also I hope(a little blue sky thinking...) that SLTD's cells might be able to be used in solar panels that I am looking to import to Australia.
I like that he said the third prototype is the last one before commercial solar cells.
Let us hope this turns out true to his word !
Hey Cool - thanks for the info!
We shall indeed see - I am not in that deep - but we both stand to make significant gains upon a successful product development.
So we are both taking a punt - personally I am happy with that - delays with tech projects are often the norm. Do wish they would be a little more transparent though.
I note that a lot of venture capital funded solar innovations look they are going to end up on the scrap heap. SLTD is the underdog and it will be ultra awesome if the SLTD crew can pull their project off - where other much better funded projects have lost investors & taxpayers lots of money.
Well - just about all these OTC stocks are speculative and most are probably not a buy!
Yes I agree and would be aiming to get in on a dip which might be possible if you don't put too large an order in.
Thanks for the introduction to this stock Ecomike!
I don't do day trading so as a buy and holder MVTG is fine for me.
Hello my Canadian friend,
I too am having a look at Mantra!
Too me, looks ripe for a bit of speculation if a nice low entry can be achieved in these uncertain times approaching the US debt ceiling deadline.
Cheers.
I am out.
So let us not be bothered...
Could be a scam and if so: should not the management / board of this company be liable for what must have been false statements in previous PRs and filings?
Ahhhh yes indeed the new shares are based on performance and the hurdles to receive them are significant. This is the positive aspect of the "news".
Think it is a reasonably safe bet the market cap will be much higher than $10 million upon successful commercialization. The potential "blue sky" associated with SLTD can only be described as AWESOME given the huge and rapidly growing solar market.
PS: I am also no day trader partly because I like to sleep when US markets are open. I buy stocks and hold for some time and have done so for many years. The US Penny stocks are quite entertaining for me and I too am learning about them - so we will be teaching each other as we go!
Assume you refer to the Restricted Stock Grant Agreement for the CEO.
I agree this does appear positive but represents no business progress. Personally, I would be happy if I was 100% sure there is actually a laboratory where Dr Son is beavering away on his solar cell...
Also, we must bare in mind Mr Nelson owns a large chunk of SLTD anyway!!
Well I cant see any recent news about progressing our solar cell...
Well I have asked the same question!!
Anyway a few posts back you will read there is a dude who lives not too far away - and is at least considering having a look.
I don't think its a secret that solar panels on your roof can can potentially make a nice return. Of course things are a little more complicated than you imply - over here in Australia, for example, we have to worry what the useless government will do subsidy and regulation wise. I have solar panels and a solar hot water system up on my roof.
SLTD's "product" (when they actually have one) may well move that line you speak of. Incidentally, another company here in Australia claims potentially ~70% efficiency, however, they are into concentrated solar cells rather PV.
Somewhere out there are ways for investors to make money in solar - just a matter of finding them...
I could have a stab at explaining but can't be bothered. In short it is not logical to make such a comparison - though I do see the point/argument you are trying to make.
Dr Son is simply doing different work to the tens/hundreds of engineers working for Sunpower - no need for a judgmental conclusion that he is "singlehandedly doing better". SLTD is one of thousands of start-ups with some piece of new technology - with which ones of these start-ups that will be successfully commercialized being quite difficult to consistently pick. Commercialization often takes longer than expected as well.
As a shareholder, I of course hope SLTD (being one of my picks) is successful.!!
You only really have to hope if you own shares in the company - have you bought some yet? A bit curious what your interest is.
Awesome!! - I do hope the half-serious turns into full serious then - this is something I would really like to do myself if it were at all convenient. If you do manage to visit the lab I also hope you will share back on the forum - for us other interested shareholders to absorb.
I generally agree with your investment sentiment as well - though personally I am more interested in business progress than patent approval. I even agree it would be realistic to describe this stock as "low risk" relative to many other penny stocks. As I think I have said - SLTD is the penny stock that caught my interest - which is significant also because as an Australian I also have to take on the additional currency risk.
True the patent process may take many months but importantly protection will apply from the date of being published (August 29)should patents be granted. Also, the patent process is not under the control of SLTD.
I agree with respect to allaying concerns that video is almost a joke - just about anyone could buy a solar toy and shoot that on their mobile! Also it could even be possible (but perhaps not all that plausible) Mr Nelson is being scammed by Dr Son...
Being a cold, unemotional type my heart has no say in the matter but my head says SLTD is worth a small investment that wont be too big a deal if all is lost. The dude calling "buy, buy, buy" is over-exuberant (unless he is trying to offload shares)!!
Good post. I too have some concerns - mainly due to lack of disclosure.
- Yes they have applied for a patent and made progress towards having it granted internationally (I checked).
- I agree Mr Nelson shows as a "stand up" businessman. The chief scientist is also a credible Korean academic.
- venture capitalists can be hard to deal with: chances are they would want a large part of the company for their 'peanuts'...
but still:
- I want to know for sure there is a lab with a solar cell - be great if someone could visit & report back.
- I would like to see a more definitive business plan - even if its only a high level outline.
I own shares as well and in fact it is this stock that attracted into the US markets. Overall, I think this stock is going in the right direction - just not telling us enough about that direction!!
Hello I am an Aussie and dont understand the US pennies that well.
I am just wondering if anyone has done sufficient do diligence on SLTD to verify they are a "real deal" ??
Personally I think they are but this is only based on web research.
Sorry - I don't follow Metal Storm.
My main speculative stock interest is in ones that in some way relate to climate change - of which there are a few on the ASX.
Great work - would also love to see the release of (at least) a dividend policy.
I have always assumed it was pretty much assumed it was waste of time for small shareholders to bother contacting companies - generally, here in Australia it would be. However, I did notice another of my "dodgy" penny stocks (FLPC) changed their mind about issuing heaps of shares due to activists on this forum. Therefore, I guess you never know until you try !!
Yeh I reckon most would see ABAT, SIAF as speculative - though each to their own. If they do go up 3 times - which I would agree is a distinct possibility - most likely I will sell down to be free carried.
I already have a reasonably diversified portfolio of "dodgy" OTC stocks - purposely done so as to avoid having to do too much research. Plus, I am really only playing with money I can probably afford to lose. My view was the only way to learn was to get in a buy stocks as sitting on the sidelines with a notional portfolio would just not hold my interest.
My prime interest is in stocks that have some connection with climate change (however tenuous that may be in the short term)so both SIAF and ABAT happen to fit this bill. Anyway, I am pleased to see some intelligent commentary on these companies boards that is in stark comparison to the posts on many others.
OK thanks very much!! - I will take at look at those companies. Appreciated - as when I asked on an Aussie forum about US pennies all I got was advice saying don't bother....
Another I like is LSIHF - Hong Kong based property developer & not as speculative as SIAF, ABAT etc.
Hello RD,
I too have followed you here from the SIAF board and bought some ABAT shares.
Being an aussie I'm a little unfamiliar with the ins and outs of US penny stocks - don't get all the lingo etc - but I do find them amazingly entertaining and you can buy into lots of interesting companies that are vastly different to what is generally available on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Might I ask if there are any other similar companies you consider worth a look ?
Regards
Steve.