A photovoltaic (“PV”) module may comprise an array of freeform micro-optics and an array of PV cells. The PV module may be a flat panel with a nominal thickness smaller than the length and width of the flat panel. An array of lenses may be embedded in an array substrate. The lenses may be coupled to light pipes. The lenses may concentrate light through the light pipes to multi-junction cells. Diffuse light may be transferred through the array substrate to a silicon cell. The lenses and light pipes may be manufactured using a molding and drawing process.

A method for manufacturing a solar cell module, the method includes a cell forming operation for forming a first solar cell and a second solar cell by, for each of the first and second solar cells, attaching a first auxiliary electrode and a second auxiliary electrode to a back surface of a semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes are formed; and a cell string forming operation for connecting the first auxiliary electrode of the first solar cell to the second auxiliary electrode of the second solar cell through an interconnector to form a cell string.

A photovoltaic solar structure comprises at least two electrically connected solar cell regions forming a shade management block. The solar cell regions have a light receiving frontside and a passivated backside opposite the light receiving frontside and a first metallization over the passivated backside has base and emitter metallization contacting base and emitter regions of the solar cell regions. An electrically insulating backplane is over the backsides of the two solar cells regions. The electrically insulating backplane covers the first metallization of the two solar cell regions. A second metallization is over the electrically insulating backplane and contacts the first metallization through the electrically insulating backplane. The second metallization has at least an opposite polarity electrical connection electrically connecting the solar cell regions of the shade management block. The opposite polarity connection has positive and negative electrical polarities. The opposite polarity electrical connection is connected to a bypass diode.

A photovoltaic solar structure comprises at least two electrically connected solar cell regions forming a shade management block. The solar cell regions have a light receiving frontside and a passivated backside opposite the light receiving frontside and a first metallization over the passivated backside has base and emitter metallization contacting base and emitter regions of the solar cell regions. An electrically insulating backplane is over the backsides of the two solar cells regions. The electrically insulating backplane covers the first metallization of the two solar cell regions. A second metallization is over the electrically insulating backplane and contacts the first metallization through the electrically insulating backplane. The second metallization has at least an opposite polarity electrical connection electrically connecting the solar cell regions of the shade management block. The opposite polarity connection has positive and negative electrical polarities. The opposite polarity electrical connection is connected to a bypass diode.

A solar cell module includes a solar cell, a wiring member electrically connected to the solar cell, a light-receiving-surface encapsulant and a back-surface encapsulant that cover the solar cell, a light-receiving-surface protecting member; and a back-surface protecting member. The back-surface protecting member does not contain a metal foil. A back-side metal electrode contacts the back-surface encapsulant. The arithmetic mean roughness of the surface of the back-side metal electrode that contacts the back-surface encapsulant is less than 0.1 μm. The back-surface encapsulant comprises a crosslinked olefin resin.

A solar cell module includes: a solar cell; a conductive light-reflective film disposed on a back surface side of the solar cell, the conductive light-reflective film extending from an edge portion of the solar cell; an insulating member disposed between a back surface of the solar cell and the conductive light-reflective film; and a back-surface side encapsulant covering the solar cell and the conductive light-reflective film from the back surface side of the solar cell, wherein the insulating member is made of a material harder than a material of the back-surface side encapsulant.

A solar cell module includes: a solar cell; a conductive light-reflective film disposed on a back surface side of the solar cell, the conductive light-reflective film extending from an edge portion of the solar cell; an insulating member disposed between a back surface of the solar cell and the conductive light-reflective film; and a back-surface side encapsulant covering the solar cell and the conductive light-reflective film from the back surface side of the solar cell, wherein the insulating member is made of a material harder than a material of the back-surface side encapsulant.

A back contact solar cell assembly and methods for its manufacture and assembly onto a panel for use in space vehicles are described. The solar cell assembly includes a compound semiconductor multijunction solar cell having a contact at the top surface of the solar cell, a conductive semiconductor element extending from the contact on the top surface to the back surface of the assembly where it forms a first back contact of a first polarity type, and a second back contact of a second polarity at the back surface of the assembly electrically coupled to the back surface of the solar cell.

A back contact solar cell assembly and methods for its manufacture and assembly onto a panel for use in space vehicles are described. The solar cell assembly includes a compound semiconductor multijunction solar cell having a contact at the top surface of the solar cell, a conductive semiconductor element extending from the contact on the top surface to the back surface of the assembly where it forms a first back contact of a first polarity type, and a second back contact of a second polarity at the back surface of the assembly electrically coupled to the back surface of the solar cell.

Method of manufacturing a single-side-contacted photovoltaic device (1), comprising the steps of: a) providing a photovoltaically-active substrate (3) defining a plurality of alternating hole collecting zones (3a) and electron collecting zones (3b) arranged in parallel strips; b) depositing a conductive layer (5) across said zones; c) depositing at least one conductive track (9) extending along at least part of each of said zones (3a, 3b); d) selectively forming a dielectric layer (7) on each of said zones (3a, 3b), so as to leave an exposed area free of dielectric at an interface between adjacent zones (3a, 3b); e) etching said conductive layer (5) in said exposed areas; f) applying a plurality of interconnecting conductors (11a, 11b) so as to electrically interconnect at least a portion of said hole collecting zones (3a) with each other, and to electrically interconnect at least a portion of said electron collecting zones (3b) with each other.