Powerfilm Share Discussion Threads

[mattjos] 17/2/2012 13:14

interesting

[timely4] 17/2/2012 12:46

No mention though of the Phicot/HP development (unless I missed it).

[shroder] 17/2/2012 10:09

Overall not a bad update, good momentum in sales but costs up also, hopefully these are one off working capital/plant needs which should be balance out in the next period (E-Z-GO sales should also kick in).

Good to see confirmation of Ferrari BPIV in this half, looking forward to developments on this front.

[shroder] 15/2/2012 12:46

These links give some idea of how HP operate and their strategy, our tech is briefly mentioned under 'license technology' (first link)





blah, you may find info about the SAIL process and patents if they exist.

[norbus] 14/2/2012 16:05

Thanks Shroder

looks like a quality entity in the making. Management tick the box and the technology should not take too long before finding the "in" application. Might pick up a few

[shroder] 14/2/2012 12:04

Thanks for the feedback both,

Norbus, yes, I had stats for all of the majors but this is over a year old and much has changed since then.

I think it's a case of watch this space; on the bread and butter side they seem to be pushing ahead with sales with the recent golf cart announcement - I notice on Powerfilms web site they appear to be hiring, the production and machine ops are 24/7 too - possibly a good indicator things are on the up.



The real growth could be driven by Ferrari textiles, approval is expected early this year following a manufacturing glitch as reported last year.

Phicot/HP, this could be a huge opportunity if they get funding for a joint factory, lots of things to speculate around but first off we should see the 'self powered portable display' as commissioned by US Army.

Powerfilm is also well funded and currently trades substantially under it's cash position, hopefully we wont have to wait too much longer for some news.

[norbus] 14/2/2012 02:10

shroder

enjoyed reading your quality research. thanks. the key is to make the winning bet on a-si, cigs or First Solar's ct ; nanotechnology has though I fear, the potential to upstage most technologies.
ct= most effective, cheap rigid and carcogenic.
cigs=effective, flexible,
a-si= lower efficacy, flexible,

You say First Solar is by far the head of the trio.. did you come across stats
on sales and applications, and possibly the market opportunities for each?

blahblah

some researchers hold back on patenting as long as possibly safe to do so for most and longest protection. Phicot may be one such.

[blahblahblahblah] 13/2/2012 15:15

no worries - appreciate you posting it.

I think with all the interest in solar, PFLM certainly has potential, but with new developments coming out all the time (e.g. or from a while ago there is a risk that the base technology could be made obsolete by a new discovery that would be protected by a patent (given low current efficiencies, it seems like there's still plenty of room for improvement to be made).

Had a quick look and haven't found any IP under Phicot's name either (though I am no expert in this) - would have thought that there would have been some after ~3 years of work...

[shroder] 13/2/2012 14:38

n/p, apologies about the formatting, some of it gets lost during copying across.

Bit of interest today but no movement either way on the price.

[blahblahblahblah] 13/2/2012 12:45

fantastic - thanks for all of that!

[shroder] 12/2/2012 11:44

blah, not sure if you have seen these, if not some good background info on the HP alliance with Phicot.





More t/f

[blahblahblahblah] 09/2/2012 20:23

thanks shroder

[shroder] 09/2/2012 20:11

Why the Military Hates Fossil Fuels




>blah, I'll dig out my old research post which maybe of help.

[blahblahblahblah] 06/2/2012 20:56

Been taking a first look at Powerfilm today. Seems great initially, but there are a couple of things I'm not sure about.

1 - As far as I can tell, there's no IP to speak of other than their 'proprietary manufacturing method' which isn't patented, just kept as an industrial secret - that correct?

2 - How does HP's change in direction (announced in Aug 2011 that they are exiting smartphone and tablets) affect the product developed by Phicot? Presumably since the development was paid for by the US Army, they still want it? but I've not seen anything one way or the other on this. (I guess there might be more on this when the results come out)

3 - There was an RNS in 2006 about a strategic relationship with Corus (now part of Tata) for building integrated products. This doesn't seem to be talked about by the company anymore but there is a solar product on the Kalzip website - is this Powerfilm's technology in the end? i.e. is this relationship still in place?

4 - Perhaps I missed where it explains it in the accounts, but what is the 5m or so that is 'equipment under construction' that doesn't seem to have moved much since 2009 (a proper fixed asset note might have helped here)

My understanding so far is that the small volume of available shares combined with slow progress is what's causing the share price to be so low. Looking back through the threads it looks like people have seen the potential offered by the company, but the lack of delivery has meant that eventually they've decided their money can do better elsewhere and left - resulting in a significant share price movement when they've gone due to the small free float?

[shroder] 20/1/2012 08:48

That's not a bad little deal they have done, largest golf cart manufacture worldwide.

No idea on possible sales but it can be retro fitted too which could add substantial numbers as golf courses upgrade their fleet.

[investoree] 19/1/2012 11:57

qwazi - Have just topped up with another 10k @19p

[qwazi] 19/1/2012 11:19

Is that a trade I see in Powerfilm? And some news? Mirabile dictu!

[shroder] 22/12/2011 20:26

U.S. military goes green

Defense spending on clean energy expected to grow


By Thomas Content of the Journal Sentinel
Sept. 22, 2011

The U.S. Department of Defense has tripled its spending on clean energy in recent years, and that investment is projected to grow as the military weans itself from reliance on costly fossil fuels.

Those are among the findings of a new report, "From Barracks to the Battlefield," published by the national security, energy and climate project at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The report has implications for Wisconsin companies with federal government contracts, such as Johnson Controls Inc., as well as energy technology firms such as Virent Energy Systems Inc., ZBB Energy Corp. and Helios Solar Works.

"As one of the largest energy consumers in the world, the Department of Defense has the ability to help shape America's energy future," said Phyllis Cuttino, director of the clean energy program at Pew.

Clean energy investments by the military surged from $400 million in 2006 to $1.2 billion in 2009, and they are projected to top $10 billion a year by 2030, according to the Pew report.

"DOD's engagement in clean energy innovation is real, and it's really impressive," Cuttino said in a conference call with reporters.

Among the areas highlighted by the report are efforts to reduce energy use at domestic military facilities, efforts to equip soldiers with renewable technologies like solar-powered blankets, and efforts to reduce the use of petroleum in military vehicles.

[shroder] 22/12/2011 20:24

Powerfilm seem to have increased the product range available to the military although not clear by how many.

They have some hefty price tags too;

https://www.gsaadvantage.gov/advantage/s/search.do?searchType=1&db=0&q=0:0powerfilm&p=1

[shroder] 22/12/2011 13:51

One or two buyers around last day or so, c'mon it's Xmas move the bid up ;-)

[shroder] 21/12/2011 08:02

It shows just how light these panels are, it looks as though they are straight out of the box too.

[shroder] 29/11/2011 22:40

Good write up here too;

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - More than a year ago, a team of Kansas National Guard Soldiers set up a solar shade system here that produces two kilowatts of power. With relatively no maintenance, the system continues to silently and steadily produce eco-friendly electricity from the sun.

Recently, Maj. Tim Franklin, the Uniformed Science Technology Advisor to U.S. Army Africa and Steve Tucker of the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center traveled to Djibouti to assess the power shade system and train Soldiers on its use.

"The system performed well during the year-long, limited military user assessment. Despite the harsh winds, high temperatures and extremely dusty conditions, the system remains fully operational with only minor de-lamination on three of the 72 panels. It produces virtually maintenance-free power," Franklin said.

He said the silent, zero-emission and logistic-free power the system produces provides tangible savings.

"The solar shade system produces the same amount of power that would be produced by a gas driven generator using eight gallons of fuel a day, or approximately 2,900 gallons in a year. In remote sites, gas costs about $15 a gallon when you factor in transportation and handling. When properly used in the optimum environment, a system like this has the potential to save the Army as much as $40 thousand dollars a year," Franklin said.

He said there are many other second and third order positive effects, such as less maintenance to generators and refueling trucks, reduced manpower requirements for mechanics and drivers and decreased power requirements due to the thermal protection the solar shade provides.

"Most importantly, the reduction in fuel convoys equates to a reduction in associated casualties from IEDs [improvised explosive devices] and small-arms fire when used in a hostile environment. That's a metric that you cannot hang a dollar value on," Franklin said.



The system is simple and consists of 72 solar panels located on the top of the 40-by 60-foot surface of the shade. Power is stored in six Hawker HMMWV batteries encased in three metal boxes. It resembles a tent-like awning used at outdoor events and can allow smaller tents to be set-up underneath it.

Tucker, an electrical engineer uses the "bathtub" analogy to describe how the solar shade system works.
"Using the solar shade as an alternative energy source is all about understanding of the balance of power," Tucker said.

"Think of the solar shade as a bathtub filled with water. The water is the energy produced and stored by the shade. It's usable energy. The solar panels create energy that goes into the battery system, just as the faucet pours water into the bath tub," Tucker explained.

"This is where the balance of power comes in, where users must ensure the power used doesn't exceed the amount of power stored," Tucker said.

"It's a paradigm shift. It's a different mindset from having a generator, where you have energy only as long as you have fuel. The biggest challenge is managing the expectations of the user. The system has advantages far above and beyond fossil fuel fired generator systems. Again, there isn't a logistics tail. It doesn't require fuel, nor does it require weekly maintenance," Tucker said.

The power shade is particularly appropriate to power small electric devices such as fans, radios and computers.

"We'll continue to work with Army units and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa to refine and validate requirements for remote, silent expeditionary power, especially where logistical resupply is a challenge," Franklin said.

"This is not a science project. The end-state is to see promising alternative energy technologies such as the solar shade advance to enduring solutions for the Army. That can only be accomplished with validated requirements and a coordinated effort between the warfighters, program managers, TRADOC combat developers, and the RDECOM science and technology office," Franklin said.

During the two-day training Franklin and Tucker engaged eight Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa personnel in the use and assembly of the solar shade. They took the shade down and reassembled it after a complete cleaning and maintenance of the system.

The solar shade has been added to the organization's property book and is ready for use in any of several CJTF - HOA operational area.