In a bygone age, EngagingChina made a couple of (primitive) solar cells in a university research lab. Amazingly they worked. Fast forward two decades and, even more amazingly, we find investment banks ready to pour millions into little-known Chinese firms making what is still a pretty basic technology. The trick to long-term survival, as you rightly say, lies in optimising the manufacturing process so you make more with less and get those unit costs right down. Oh, thanks for the complement!