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To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (8632)	7/26/2010 6:10:34 PM
From: Eric	Respond to of 16955

Innovalight Signs with Yingli for Second Chinese Solar Deal Silicon Valley: Meet Large Chinese Manufacturer. Innovalight has signed a research and production deal with Yingli Green Energy that, ideally, will lead to a marriage of low-cost Chinese manufacturing and U.S. technological expertise. Innovalight has developed a solar ink that, when added to crystalline silicon solar cells, can boost their efficiency. Right now, adding Innovalight's secret sauce increases efficiency by about a percentage point: an 18 percent efficient solar cell becomes a 19 percent efficient cell. Put another way, adding in the ink turns a 30 megawatt-per-year line into a 35 megawatt line without the need for lots of expensive new equipment. The efficiency boost decreases a bit when the cells are added to the panels-panel efficiency is invariably lower-but it still gooses efficiency. Next year, the ink will add two percentage points to overall efficiency, and in 2012, the target is three. So think of them as the Keebler elves of solar, adding a little magic at the end of the cooking process. JA Solar, another Chinese company, signed a three-year deal with Innovalight earlier this year. While Innovalight could produce its own solar cells, the company has largely shifted to producing solar inks for others and collaborating on research. The shift obviates the need to raise the capital to build solar factories and it insulates Innovalight to some degree from the brutal price competition in solar. Companies such as Nanostellar (catalytic powders for diesel engines), e-Solar, and Mission Motors have shifted toward a licensing/component model as well. The trend started in 2008. The downside? Large companies are often reluctant to buy materials or sign licensing deals with start-ups and often spend an inordinate amount of energy and money to develop technologies that get around a start-up's patents. In the semiconductor world, the general rule is that a start-up has to beat a large, established company in court or at least get a large settlement before they can ink deals. The fact that both JA and Yingli are Chinese might at first seem odd. China is widely considered a haven for piracy. But here's the motivating factor: Chinese companies often don't have access to cutting edge technology. Suntech Power Holdings is ranked among the best solar innovators but others are often viewed as followers. Combining with Innovalight effectively allows them to accelerate their product lines. Innovalight is also insulated from fears about infringement with all or any of its partners because it makes the inks itself. It licenses the techniques for making printing tools but does the ink in-house. Licensing ultimately marks one of the few ways that Western companies can tap the Chinese market and get around the fact that China will likely continue to enjoy advantages in low cost manufacturing. First Solar, Duke Energy and e-Solar have Chinese alliances too. greentechmedia.com

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (8632)	7/26/2010 6:21:02 PM
From: Eric	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 16955

Go to Costco if there is one in your town. They pretty much carry Feit (chinese) bulbs but they work very, very well. If you are not happy bring them back to Costco anytime for a full refund. Most CFL's now have "fast starting circuity". If you bought bulbs that don't have that..take em back. The tech in these bulbs has changed tremendously in the last year and a half. All of my outdoor floods are encapsulated CFL's with a floodlite reflector. Not one failure in the last year and a half and they automatically go on every day at sunset and shut down automatically shortly after dawn. Doren's correct. You have to do your homework. If you get Consumer Reports check out their reviews.. they are all good. By the way.. If you buy at Costco like mine here, our utilities offer a rebate at the checkout register. Most utilities do it in the U.S. They do it up in Canada too. I got three packages of 4 cfl's each (60 and 100 watt equivalent bulbs) that cost $2.25. That works out to $.56 per bulb. Almost as cheap as an incandescent bulb! Oh, by the way. Don't buy the common CFL bulbs at Home Depot or Lowes. You will end up paying much much more. Eric

To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (8632)	7/27/2010 1:54:36 PM
From: Doren	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 16955

My spirals start right up like incandescents. I'm in San Diego so spirals outside are no biggie. They don't like the cold. Conversely the LEDs don't like heat so if you are up north they might be a good alternative. I'm interested in CREE coming on so I'll be on a quest for LEDs, to learn about which ones are good etc. I think they might be a good alternative for spotlights but at $30 to $50 a pop I'm going to be pretty careful. The last ones I bought through eBay basically melted within a week. The vendor took off and never got a refund from... MEG WHITMAN... (rant) who did nothing for eBay.