the spp and other things, page-11

*not sure what to make of "discussions with Asian manufacturers to source cheap materials" for flat panel PV. Will defer to Moosey and assume Suntech.

Not saying I am right KLH, in fact I could be dead wrong, but there are a few things that make me think it is a distinct possibility,

When Suntech Silex and the UNSW agreed to this partnership they are now in, it was stated that any technology brought to the table remained with the owner of that IP, but any further IP discovered whilst in this partnership would belong in equal parts to all members of the partnership

First and foremost of my thinking is :- why are Suntech in partnership with Silex and the UNSW, isn't it so they can achieve 25% plus efficiency for flat panel solar cells.

My understanding is that the Translucent epitaxial growth method to make mono silicon wafers, is part of this method to get to 25% plus efficiency and also make them cheaper in the first place, I say part because I believe Suntech and the UNSW PERLS technology may also play a part?

Translucent have stated that they can either make these wafers or make the systems that can manufacture the epitaxially grown wafers themselves, we see that Translucent have been allocated money for commercialisation of one of their products? it may be for making the chips for the tier one Chip manufacturer themselves or it may be the method used for making them? which may also be used for solar wafer production just as easily, they both use epitaxial growth?

Suntech recently stated that they were going to make their own cells in house and then proceeded to tell Glory Silicon they would no longer need their product, this caused some ruction at GS, but Suntech has recently bought out GS, the main reason why I believe they may have done this is because they wanted a ready supply of Mono Silicon Ingots, and the next thing we hear is that Suntech are going into partnership with another Solar producer in China to produce solar cells,
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Suntech-Announces-Full-Year-prnews-3890553783.html?x=0&.v=1

WOW, they must be expecting a huge increase in demand to what they already have??

AND Suntech have stated that these new cells will be cheaper to make, but also more efficient as well, what method will they be using to achieve this?
Go figure.

But lets just say it was Suntech and lets just assume that they were going to use the Translucent method of producing these wafers? what would be the point of Silex going down exactly the same path and reinventing the wheel so to speak to make their own wafers from what was gleaned for the collaboration, not a cheap exercise either by the way, why not let Suntech do that and buy the product for an already agreed price from them that is also cheap?

Otherwise what possible purpose would ever come of this partnership in the first place?

Or is all this too fanciful?
I have placed my head fairly and squarely on the block and stand to lose it if I am wrong, LOL
But I am happy with my assumptions.