A photovoltaic module having a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer being juxtaposed with a lower surface of the superstrate layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. A first portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant includes a first light scattering value as measured in accordance with an ASTM E430 standard, and a second portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant has a second light scattering value as measured in accordance with the ASTM E430 standard. The second light scattering value is greater than the first light scattering value.

The present disclosure discloses a solar module, including solar cells, each solar cell includes a front surface and a rear surface arranged opposite to each other. The solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate and busbars located on one side of the semiconductor substrate, first electrode pads are provided at the busbars, a number of the first electrode pads ranges from 6 to 12. The solar module includes an electrode line with one end connected to the first electrode pads of the busbars on front surface of the solar cell and the other end connected to the first electrode pads of the busbars on rear surface of the adjacent solar cell. A relation between a diameter of the electrode line and a number of the busbars is 116.55x.sup.2−92.03x+27.35<y<582.75x.sup.2−425.59x+92.58, x denotes the diameter of the electrode line, and y denotes the number of the busbars.

The present disclosure relates to a method for manufacturing thin, efficient, and aesthetically pleasing PV modules having masked or non-shiny interconnects. The method involves a step of applying a masking material over interconnects that are used for electrically connecting PV cells associated with the PV module. The masking material is in form or a strip or ribbon or paste adapted to be attached or applied over the interconnects, which saves the material and also restricts shining of the interconnects. Further, a clear glass superstrate is attached on top of the masked PV cells, and another glass substrate or polymer backsheet is attached to bottom of the masked PV cells. The masking material used is a chemical or radiation stable material, same as the material used for manufacturing the PV module, which restricts deterioration due to chemical reactions or UV light exposure.

The invention relates to a layer element comprising three layers A, B and C in the configuration A-B-C wherein layers A and B and layers B and C are in adhering contact with each other, an article, preferably a photovoltaic module, comprising said layer element, a process for preparing said layer element, a process for preparing a photovoltaic module comprising said layer element and the use of said layer element as integrated backsheet element of a photovoltaic module.

The invention relates to a base trough (4) for a thermal module (1), thermal module (1) comprising such base trough (4), a system for extracting thermal energy and the use of such base trough (4) for extracting thermal energy from sunlight.

The present invention relates to a polymer composition, to an article comprising the polymer composition, preferably to an article which is a photovoltaic (PV) module comprising at least one layer element (LE) comprising the polymer composition and to a process for producing said article, preferably said photovoltaic (PV) module.

A method for manufacturing a concentrating photovoltaic solar sub-module equipped with a reflective face having a concave predefined geometric shape, wherein it includes laminating, in a single step, a multi-layer assembly comprising in succession: a structural element equipped with a reflective first face and a second face, opposite the first; a layer of a material of good thermal conductivity, higher than that of the material from which the structural element is composed, the layer being placed on the second face of the structural element; a layer of encapsulant or of adhesive; a photovoltaic receiver, the layer of encapsulant or of adhesive being placed between the layer of a material of good thermal conductivity and the receiver; a layer made of transparent encapsulating material, covering at least the entire surface of the photovoltaic receiver; and a transparent protective layer covering the layer made of transparent encapsulating material; and during the lamination, the reflective face of the structural element is shaped by being brought into contact with a convex surface of a counter-mold, in order to obtain the reflective face of concave predefined geometric shape.

A method for manufacturing a concentrating photovoltaic solar sub-module equipped with a reflective face having a concave predefined geometric shape, wherein it includes laminating, in a single step, a multi-layer assembly comprising in succession: a structural element equipped with a reflective first face and a second face, opposite the first; a layer of a material of good thermal conductivity, higher than that of the material from which the structural element is composed, the layer being placed on the second face of the structural element; a layer of encapsulant or of adhesive; a photovoltaic receiver, the layer of encapsulant or of adhesive being placed between the layer of a material of good thermal conductivity and the receiver; a layer made of transparent encapsulating material, covering at least the entire surface of the photovoltaic receiver; and a transparent protective layer covering the layer made of transparent encapsulating material; and during the lamination, the reflective face of the structural element is shaped by being brought into contact with a convex surface of a counter-mold, in order to obtain the reflective face of concave predefined geometric shape.

A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.

A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.