Abstract: A solar cell module or a solar cell module which is provided with a readable and writable memory medium capable of writing in a large quantity of information of said solar cell module and capable of reading out necessary information from said memory medium. A solar cell system comprising said solar cell module or said solar cell module string. A method for supervising said solar cell module or said solar cell module string.

Abstract: A solar cell module has a very agreeable appearance and can carry a large volume of information on the light receiving surface thereof. An information carrying body storing information (including, for example, the date, the process the rated values, the destination of shipment, I-V curve data and other data) for identifying the module is invisibly arranged on the light receiving surface side of the solar cell module (e.g., on the front surface sealing member or the front surface member of the photovoltaic elements).

Abstract: Laser light having a wavelength where a thin-film semiconductor layer can absorb the laser light is applied on the side of the thin-film semiconductor layer to join a semiconductor-holding member and a metal member by welding. Materials can be joined at a sufficiently high strength and with long term stability especially when a metal member of the same or different type is welded to a conductive substrate which is a part of a photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is provided which comprises at least one metal wire on a surface of a photovoltaic element for collecting the power generated by the photovoltaic element, the at least one metal wire being coated with an electroconductive adhesive over the entire length and fixed onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic device is produced without applying and curing the electroconductive adhesive in the photovoltaic device production process at low cost with high reliability.

Abstract: A cleaning method whereby a cleaning liquid used for cleaning in one cleaning stage is mixed after the one cleaning stage with a cleaning liquid used for cleaning in a rear cleaning stage. The flow rate of the one cleaning stage being greater than that of the cleaning liquid used for cleaning in the rear cleaning stage.

Abstract: A group of solar cell elements is obtained by connecting a plurality of solar cell elements in series or in parallel by metal foil members, which is characterized in that an insulating tape is adhered in parallel with the metal foil members on and across the back surfaces of the plurality of solar cell elements arranged next to each other. The insulating tape is characterized by comprising a base member of a resin, for example polyethylene terephthalate (PET). A solar cell module is characterized in that the above group of solar cell elements is covered with a polymeric organic resin. Further, a method for producing the solar cell module comprises a step of adjacently arranging a plurality of solar cell elements, a step of adhering an insulating tape on the back surfaces of the plurality of solar cell elements, a step of connecting the plurality of solar cell elements in series or in parallel by metal foil members, and a step of covering the elements with a polymeric organic resin.

Abstract: In a photovoltaic device comprising a conductive base plate having four side edges, at least one conductive foil having a higher conductivity than the conductive base plate is provided in contact with the conductive base plate along at least one side edge of the conductive base plate. The conductive foil is preferably provided on the non-light-receiving surface of the photovoltaic device, and comprises copper as a main ingredient. The conductive foil preferably has a thickness in the range of 70 .mu.m to 150 .mu.m and is provided along each of two side edges of the conductive base plate facing each other. The conductive base plate is a base plate made of stainless steel. In the photovoltaic device and a manufacture method thereof, the conductive foil and the conductive base plate are connected together by ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: A sealing material exhibiting excellent sealing performance while keeping a satisfactory balance between a variety of characteristics is provided so that the sealing structure is simplified and the quantity of the sealing material is reduced. As a result, a solar cell, the cost of which can significantly be reduced and which can be operated stably for a long time while exhibiting excellent performance can be provided. A suitable resin composition for sealing contains at least a hardening resin and a thermoplastic resin which has a number average molecular weight larger than the number average molecular weight of the hardening resin and which is soluble in the hardening resin.

Abstract: A photovoltaic element has a photoelectric conversion layer and a collecting electrode formed thereon by curing a paste having at least an electroconductive base substance and a curable resin formed on the photoelectric conversion layer. The number average molecular weight of the curable resin is 3000 or less.