A solar module with a flat substrate and a plurality of solar cells that are connected in series between two conductor tracks and are arranged on a first side of the substrate. The solar cells form an optically active module inner region that is surrounded by an optically inactive module edge region. A hole in the substrate, a junction box on a second side of the substrate, and an electrical connection between a tapping point on the conductor track and a connection point of the junction box are associated with each conductor track. The hole is positioned at least partially in the module inner region such that the tapping point on the conductor track is situated outside an aligning extension of the hole and at least one solar cell is divided or has a shortened length.

A method of fabricating solar cell, solar laminate and/or solar module string is provided. The method may include: locating a metal foil over a plurality of semiconductor substrates; exposing the metal foil to laser beam over selected portions of the plurality of semiconductor substrates, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms a plurality conductive contact structures having of locally deposited metal portion electrically connecting the metal foil to the semiconductor substrates at the selected portions; and selectively removing portions of the metal foil, wherein remaining portions of the metal foil extend between at least two of the plurality of semiconductor substrates.

Embodiments of the present invention may utilize one or more techniques, alone or in combination, to maximize a surface area of a receiver that is configured to convert light into another form of energy. One technique enhances collection efficiency by controlling a size, shape, and/or position of a cell relative to an expected illumination profile under various conditions. Another technique positions non-active elements (such as electrical contacts and/or interconnects) on surfaces likely to be shaded from incident light by other elements of the receiver. Another technique utilizes embodiments of interconnect structures occupying a small footprint. According to certain embodiments, the receiver may be cooled by exposure to a fluid such as water or air.

An electrically conductive composition as an electrically conductive adhesive for mechanically and electrically connecting at least one contact of a solar cell with an electrical conductor is provided. The contact is selected from emitter contacts and collector contacts and the electrically conductive composition contains (A) 2 to 35 vol.-% silver particles having an average particle size of 1 to 25 μm and exhibiting an aspect ratio in the range of 5 to 30:1, (B) 10 to 63 vol.-% non-metallic particles having an average particle size of 1 to 25 um and exhibiting an aspect ratio in the range of 1 to 3:1, (C) 30 to 80 vol.-% of a curable resin system, and (D) 0 to 10 vol.-% of at least one additive, in which the sum of the vol.-% of particles (A) and (B) totals 25 to 65 vol.-%.

The present invention concerns an electronic device, preferably a thin film electronic device, and a method for producing the device. The device comprises an intermediate structure (301, 401, 501) at the interface between neighboring unit devices connected in series. The intermediate structure is suitable to employ deposition techniques that make it possible to avoid steps of scribing or patterning insulating and/or separating lines between adjacent layers of the device.

A solar cell module includes: two solar cells adjacent to each other in a direction parallel to a light-receiving surface; a tab line which is disposed on a front surface of one of the two solar cells and a back surface of the other of the two solar cells, and electrically connects the two solar cells; and bonding members which bond the tab line to the two solar cells, wherein bonding strength between the tab line and at least one of the two solar cells in an edge area on a side electrically connected with the other of the two solar cells by the tab line is lower than bonding strength between the tab line and the at least one of the two solar cells in a central area.

A solar power generation system includes: solar cells, or solar cells and at least one capacitor, connected in series between output terminals; an accompanying circuit provided for each of the solar cells, or each of the solar cells and each of the at least one capacitor, the accompanying circuit including an inductor and a switching device arranged in series; and a power generation operating point control device. The solar cells, or the solar cells and the at least one capacitor, are divided into units, of which adjacent units share one of the solar cells or one of the at least one capacitor. The power generation operating point control device is provided for each of the units, and is configured to control connection and disconnection of the switching device so as to optimize power generating capacity of the unit for which the power generation operating point control device is provided.

A solar cell includes a top cell module that generates power by photoelectrically converting incident light and allows part of the incident light to pass through the top cell module, and a bottom cell module that is laminated to the top cell module and generates power by photoelectrically converting light that has passed through the top cell module, wherein the top cell module includes a plurality of top cells that are connected in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel, the bottom cell module includes a plurality of bottom cells that are connected in series, in parallel, or in a combination of series and parallel, the number of the bottom cells being equal to the number of the top cells, and an electrode connecting the plurality of top cells is positioned such that the electrode does not overlap the bottom cells in plan view.

A solar panel includes a first photovoltaic cell, a second photovoltaic cell, and a flexible electrical connection structure which comprises an electrically conductive connector that electrically connects the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell in series along a connection direction. The electrically conductive connector does not extend from a first major surface of a flexible transparent insulating sheet through a thickness of the flexible transparent insulating sheet to a second major surface of the flexible transparent insulating sheet.

A metallic article for a photovoltaic cell is disclosed. The metallic article includes a first region having a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. A cell-to-cell interconnect is integral with the first region. The cell-to-cell interconnect is configured to extend beyond the light-incident surface and to directly couple the metallic article to a neighboring photovoltaic cell. The cell-to-cell interconnect includes a plurality of electroformed, curved appendages. Each appendage has a first end coupled to an edge of the first region and a second end opposite the first end and away from the edge. The appendages are spaced apart from each other. The metallic article is a unitary, free-standing piece.