Abstract: Provided are novel building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) assemblies and methods of installation thereof on building structures. The BIP assembly includes a base sheet or a sheath, which may be a plywood board or an oriented strand (OSB) board, and multiple electrically interconnected photovoltaic inserts, which are attached to and supported by the base sheet. The base sheet is configured to be positioned directly the building structures, such as roof rafters. Various electrical components may be positioned within cavities of the base sheet and/or at the back side of that sheet. Such components are configured to align in between the roof rafters during installation. The spacing between the rafters provides access to the components and allows the components to extend away from the base sheet and into the spacing. Various electrical components may be installed and removed from the BIP assembly during its fabrication and/or installation.

Abstract: Provided are novel structures for electrically interconnecting two or more building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules with a pin connector. Each module has a cavity and a conductive element positioned inside the cavity. The conductive element may be electrically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In a photovoltaic assembly formed by two modules, a conductive portion of the pin connector extends between two cavities of the respective modules and provides an electrical communication between the two conductive elements. The two cavities are generally coaxially aligned. In certain embodiments, one or both cavities are through holes. A portion of the pin connector may extend outside of such cavities and protrude into a building structure to mechanically secure the modules with respect to the structure. A pin connector may have an insulating head for handling the connector during installation and/or sealing the through hole under the head from the environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laser-structuring thin layers on a substrate in order to produce monolithically connected thin-layer solar cells, having the following steps:—providing a laser with a laser wavelength,—providing a substrate (1) which comprises a first side and a second side and which is transparent for the laser wavelength, said first side of the substrate has big a metal rear electrode thin layer (2), on which an absorber thin layer (3) for thin layer solar cells is arranged,—emitting a laser beam (L) onto the substrate, and—moving the laser beam (L) over the substrate (1) along a writing line and/or moving the substrate (1) relative to the laser beam (L) along a writing line.

Abstract: A method of making a sputtering target includes providing a backing structure, and forming a copper indium gallium sputtering target material on the backing structure by cold spraying. The step of cold spraying includes spraying a powder comprising copper, indium and gallium in a process gas stream, and at least one of an average particle size of the powder is at least 35 ?m, a velocity of the process gas stream is at least 150 m/s, or a process gas pressure is 20 bar or less.

Abstract: Apparatus and techniques for mounting frameless photovoltaic modules reduce module stress induced by the mounting configuration. Mounting clamps and rail/clamp spacing configured to relieve module stress by reducing or eliminating module sag are used.