Replies to post #44901 on SunWorks Inc (SUNWQ)

[Raznic]

Yes, either prohibitive cost, or just in figuring out a way to mass manufacture the 3D nature of the panel. Or both! All in my humble speculation with the info given.

Things change, things evolve. They didn't go belly up, they didn't fold, Jim saw this coming and evolved the company into another (profitable) endeavor!

[Sprech]

"Panasonic also made an all-back contact HIT cell, which reached a record efficiency of 25.6%, but does not produce such cells commercially because the fabrication process is very complicated and costly."

"The SunPower cells have all back contacts, but are not HIT-structured. They are made with super-high quality silicon, and they require a complex set of steps to mount the contacts to the silicon. Those two factors make the SunPower cells the most expensive silicon cells on the market. They are being widely manufactured and sold today, albeit at a cost that’s 50% higher than that of common commercial cells."

Some interesting quotes from a Natcore article.

http://www.natcoresolar.com/news/natcores-provini-solar-cell-producers-must-switch-to-hit-structure-if-they-want-to-survive/

I do believe our 3D cell may be a bit more complicated/costly to produce than originally thought. But then again, SunPower is already manufacturing the more complicated "back contacts" cells which are more costly to produce, but they simply charge more for them.

Why not make our 3D cell, and yeah at first it will cost more than other cells, but it will produce more power over time than those other cells, so the higher cost would be well worth it. I'd rather buy 10 panels at a higher price than 20 panels that cost less but produce the same power. Also, as the 3D cell gains traction through using it with our installer acquisitions and getting it into the market, volume buying of our 3D cell and economies of scale will lower its cost as it becomes the market standard.