Abstract: Solar cell and method of manufacturing a solar cell. The solar cell has a silicon substrate (2) and a layer (4) disposed on a substrate side (2a) of the silicon substrate (2). It further has a contact structure (6) extending through the layer (4) from a cell side (1a) of the solar cell (1) to the silicon substrate (2). The layer (4) is composed of a polycrystalline silicon layer (8) and a tunnel oxide layer (10) interposed between the polycrystalline silicon layer (8) and the silicon substrate (2).

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate (1) having an active region (2) and a first surface and a second surface facing each other. A first type of passivating layer (5) is present for providing an electrical contact of a first conductivity type on a part of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate (1). A dielectric layer (4) is provided between the first type of passivating layer (5) and an active region (2) of the semiconductor substrate (1). Doping of the first conductivity type is provided in a layer (3) of the active region (2) of the semiconductor substrate (1) near the first surface. The lateral dopant level in the layer (3) of the active region (2) near the first surface is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A semiconductor substrate (1) having an active region (2) and a first surface and a second surface facing each other. A first type of passivating layer (5) is present for providing an electrical contact of a first conductivity type on a part of the first surface of the semiconductor substrate (1). A dielectric layer (4) is provided between the first type of passivating layer (5) and an active region (2) of the semiconductor substrate (1). Doping of the first conductivity type is provided in a layer (3) of the active region (2) of the semiconductor substrate (1) near the first surface. The lateral dopant level in the layer (3) of the active region (2) near the first surface is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A back-contacted solar cell based on a silicon substrate of p-type conductivity has a front surface for receiving radiation and a rear surface. The rear surface is provided with a tunnel oxide layer and a doped polysilicon layer of n-type conductivity. The tunnel oxide layer and the patterned doped polysilicon layer of n-type conductivity form a patterned layer stack provided with gaps in the patterned layer stack. An Al—Si alloyed contact is arranged within each of the gaps, in electrical contact with a base layer of the substrate, and one or more Ag contacts are arranged on the patterned doped polysilicon layer and in electrical contact with the patterned doped polysilicon layer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module (1) having photovoltaic cells (2) positioned in a space between a front and a back sheet (4, 5). A scattering layer (7) is present having a radiation scattering pattern with first and/or second surface areas (7a, 7b), in combination with third surface areas (7c). The first surface areas (7a) are aligned above ribbons (3), and the second surface areas (7b) with spaces between adjacent photovoltaic cells (2). The third surface areas (7c) are aligned with a perimeter surface area of the photovoltaic module (1) outside of a surface area formed by the photovoltaic cells (2). The scattering layer (7) comprises a plurality of strips and a plurality of interruptions (8) between one or more of the plurality of strips. Furthermore, a method for assembling a photovoltaic module (1) comprises printing the radiation scattering pattern on a surface of the front sheet (4) and/or back sheet (5).

Abstract: Back side connection layer for a photo-voltaic module comprising a plurality of PV-cells (i,j), the plurality PV-cells (i,j) being of a type having one or more back side contacts and divided in a preset number of strings (3) of series connected PV-cells (i. j). By-pass diodes are connectable in parallel to each of the preset number of strings (3), and three or more strings (3) are provided. The plurality of PV-cells (i,j) are positioned such that electrical connections to the first PV-cell and last PV-cell of each of the preset number of strings (3) are provided in a part of the back side connection layer overlapping a part of a two-by-two arrangement of PV-cells (i,j).

Abstract: A photovoltaic module having one or more photovoltaic cells (2) positioned in a space between a front sheet (4) and a back sheet (5), the space being filled with an encapsulant material (6). The photovoltaic module (1) has a plurality of ribbons (3) providing an electrical interconnection of the one or more photovoltaic cells (2). A single visible-light absorbing layer (7) is present having a pattern which includes partial areas aligned with the plurality of ribbons (3). The partial areas have a width (w+e) which is equal to a width (w) of the associated ribbon (3) plus a symmetrically applied extension width (e). The extension width (e) and height (h) are determined according to the equation: 2 ? h w + e < tan ? ( 90 - sin - 1 ? ( 1 ? / ? n E ) ) wherein nE is the refractive index of the encapsulant material (6). The single visible-light absorbing layer (7) is provided on an internal face of the front sheet (4).

Abstract: Solar cell and method of manufacturing a solar cell. The solar cell has a silicon substrate (2) and a layer (4) disposed on a substrate side (2a) of the silicon substrate (2). It further has a contact structure (6) extending through the layer (4) from a cell side (1a) of the solar cell (1) to the silicon substrate (2). The layer (4) is composed of a polycrystalline silicon layer (8) and a tunnel oxide layer (10) interposed between the polycrystalline silicon layer (8) and the silicon substrate (2).

Abstract: Photovoltaic module with a negative terminal (5) and a positive terminal (6), and a parallel connection (3, 4) of m sub-modules (2) connected to the negative and the positive terminal (5, 6) of the photovoltaic module (1). Each of the m sub-modules (2) has a string of n series-connected back-contact cells (9), wherein the n cells (9) of each sub-module (2) are arranged in an array. The parallel connection (3, 4) and connections (8) for each string of n series-connected back contact cells (9) are provided in a back conductive sheet, and the back conductive sheet comprises designated areas (7) for the parallel connection (3, 4), corresponding to edge parts of each corresponding sub-module (2).

Abstract: Back side connection layer for a photo-voltaic module with a plurality of PV-cells. The PV-cells are of a type having a plurality of back side contacts. A by-pass diode connection path is formed in the back side connection layer along an edge direction of two adjacent cells with a straight or meandering pattern around outer contacts of the plurality of back side contacts of the two adjacent cells.

Abstract: Back side connection layer for a photo-voltaic module comprising a plurality of PV-cells (i,j), the plurality PV-cells (i,j) being of a type having one or more back side contacts and divided in a preset number of strings (3) of series connected PV-cells (i. j). By-pass diodes are connectable in parallel to each of the preset number of strings (3), and three or more strings (3) are provided. The plurality of PV-cells (i,j) are positioned such that electrical connections to the first PV-cell and last PV-cell of each of the preset number of strings (3) are provided in a part of the back side connection layer overlapping a part of a two-by-two arrangement of PV-cells (i,j).

Abstract: Back side connection layer for a photo-voltaic module with a plurality of PV-cells (1, 2). The PV-cells (1, 2) are of a type having a plurality of back side contacts (11, 12). A by-pass diode connection path (6) is formed in the back side connection layer (3) along an edge direction of two adjacent cells (1, 2) with a straight or meandering pattern around outer contacts (4, 5) of the plurality of back side contacts (11, 12) of the two adjacent cells (1, 2).

Abstract: Photovoltaic module with a negative terminal (5) and a positive terminal (6), and a parallel connection (3, 4) of m sub-modules (2) connected to the negative and the positive terminal (5, 6) of the photovoltaic module (1). Each of the m sub-modules (2) has a string of n series-connected back-contact cells (9), wherein the n cells (9) of each sub-module (2) are arranged in an array. The parallel connection (3, 4) and connections (8) for each string of n series-connected back contact cells (9) are provided in a back conductive sheet, and the back conductive sheet comprises designated areas (7) for the parallel connection (3, 4), corresponding to edge parts of each corresponding sub-module (2).

Abstract: A solar panel (1) includes: a plurality of semiconductor substrate based solar cells (2), a transparent front side plate (4), and a rear side plate (6). The transparent front side plate (4) is stacked on top of the rear side plate (6) and the plurality of solar cells (2) are arranged in an array in between the rear side (6) plate and the front side plate (4). Each solar cell (2) has a light receiving surface facing (8) towards the front side plate (4); the solar cells (2) being embedded in an encapsulant layer (10) between the front side plate (4) and the rear side plate (6), wherein the solar panel includes an internal light redirection unit (12; 20) for guiding light received on the solar panel (1) but not captured by the solar cells (2), towards the solar cells (2).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell module that includes a solar cell based on a semiconductor substrate with front and rear surfaces, includes—fabricating a solar cell from the substrate, and—depositing on at least the rear surface a coating layer. The deposition step includes applying a coating powder on at least the rear surface, forming an adhered powder layer on said surface. The method includes after the deposition step: performing a first annealing process on the solar cell module for transforming the adhered powder layer in a pre-annealed coating layer. Further the method includes—creating open contacting areas on the solar cell by removal of the adhered powder layer at locations of contacting areas on the solar cell , wherein the removal precedes the first annealing process, or by masking contacting areas on the solar cell 1, wherein the masking precedes the deposition step.

Abstract: Photovoltaic module with a back side conductive substrate (10) and a plurality of PV-cells (2) having back contacts and being arranged in an array on a top surface of the back side conductive substrate (10). A circuit of series and/or parallel connected PV-cells (2) is formed by connections (8) between the back contacts and the back side conductive substrate (10). A plurality of by-pass diodes (5) are present having back contacts (6a, 6b) in electrical contact with the circuit of series and/or parallel connected PV-cells (2), wherein the by-pass diodes (5) are positioned on empty parts (4) of the top surface of the back side conductive substrate (10). Each by-pass diode is a wafer based diode and is connected in parallel with one or more PV-cells (2).

Abstract: A photo-voltaic cell has a first and second two-dimensional array of contact points on the first surface, each coupled to a respective one of base and emitter areas in or on the semi-conductor body. Electrically separate first and second conductor structures on the first surface emanate from each contact point, coupled to contact points of the first and second two-dimensional array respectively. The first conductor structure comprises sets of first conductor line branches, the first conductor line branches of each set branching out from a respective one of the contact points of the first two-dimensional array in at least three successive different directions at less than a hundred and eighty degrees to each other.

Abstract: Corrosion effects in a solar cell are measured by means of a conduit with electrolytic fluid. The rim of an open end of the conduit is placed against the surface of the solar cell to expose a selected area of the solar cell to the electrolytic fluid, leaving a free part of the planar surface of the solar cell outside the exposed area. Current and/or voltage fluctuations are measured in an electric circuit that contains the electrolytic fluid, an interface between the electrolytic fluid on the exposed area and a conductor layer on the planar surface, and a contact to the conductor layer in the free part.

Abstract: In an assembly of photo-voltaic cells, the cells are arranged in a matrix and connected in series. Bypass diodes are connected in parallel respective parts of the series connection. In each of these parts, the cells are arranged in a sub-matrix, for example of 4×4 cells. The matrix contains rows of sub-matrices that have identical first sub-matrix connection patterns, except at the edge of the matrix, where sub-matrices with a second sub-matrix connection pattern are used. Each first sub-matrix connection pattern extends over a plurality of rows of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive columns through the plurality of rows. Each second sub-matrix connection patterns extends over a plurality of columns of photo-voltaic cells of the matrix, running back and forth along successive rows through the plurality of columns. The second sub-matrix connection patterns, connect first sub-matrix connection patterns at ends of pairs of the rows of first sub-matrix connection patterns.

Abstract: Corrosion effects in a solar cell are measured by means of a conduit with electrolytic fluid. The rim of an open end of the conduit is placed against the surface of the solar cell to expose a selected area of the solar cell to the electrolytic fluid, leaving a free part of the planar surface of the solar cell outside the exposed area. Current and/or voltage fluctuations are measured in an electric circuit that contains the electrolytic fluid, an interface between the electrolytic fluid on the exposed area and a conductor layer on the planar surface, and a contact to the conductor layer in the free part.