OSE Europe/Communication/Mailinglist Log/Solar Fire Solar Concentrator

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Link: Startdate: 2010-10-25

Funding Issues
The Solar Fire project by Eerik and Eva Wissenz was in trouble to find monies that they might have to sell exclusive production licenses to continue keeping the project open source or just go close source (Message 1). During the course of discussion Erik pointed out that he will need about 5000 Euro to finish documentation and start a kickstarter or crowdfunder project (Message 20). In the following the money was raised by individual investors within the OSE Europe list (since OSE Europe had no legal entity at that time). The possibility to donate the money to the to be created OSE Foundation to get tax reductions was raised, concerns about the legality in case of reapying of the funds to the contributors as well as Charter Problems have stopped further discussion. The money goes straight to Eerik and Evas SiSustainable Project as indicated by the proforma invoices (Message 72). Eeriks also sent out Risk Prospects and an Investment Plan (Message 81) for the investors.

Further Funding: It was also suggested, that Eerik spends the money on other projects related to Millares (Message 66), but this was abandoned as the contributors want to decide themselves where the money goes and decided to take a different approach for funding Millares as soon as there are more concrete steps. On the other hand Eerik wants to try to get Millares as an training center for SolarFire, the money raised with this project will be repaid to the contributors and they could refinance as they liked there (Message 69)

Licensing: The Question about the Licensing was raised (Message 82). As a license on Open Source Hardwar only makes sense if there is a good documentation available the documentation should be licensed under CC-BY-NC-SA. In Message 83 also all the different production types (DIY, Local Production, Mass Production) are explained. Further steps to continue in Open Sourcing the stuff are considered. Erik also considered to change the license to a commercial one (Message 102) on some time. It was further mentioned, that this might get tricky, as every bit of contribution has to be tracked from the people when the license should be changed afterwards, as it is share alike (Message 105).

Results: With the money raised, Eerik and Eva have re-build the Solar Fire website in English and French to make it a clear and participative tool to spread low solar tech. They present their Open Business model and the possible futures developments of their work with a DIY open source section and some specific licenses to finance the open source side. Eerik has also worked on technical improvements and is gone to Tinytech (India) for a 90m2 machine. They have also financially supported Open Power Nepal.

Technical Issues
Reverse Engineering: It would be possible to Reverse Engineer SolarFire if it is not possible to keep it OpenSource also Will mentioned before that the DIY Version will despite the selling of the mass product versions (see Message 83) would stay open source. Also this method would not be vere effective when taking in account the work already done by SiSustainable.

Tracking System: SolarFlower has a Tracking System working with purely mechanical means. This could be adapted to the SolarFire System (Message 55,70) but would have a much shorter range.

Software Issues:

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