An integrated photovoltaic panel has one or more integral DC-DC converter circuits. The DC-DC converter input port couples to a section of at least one photovoltaic (PV) device of the panel separate from PV devices feeding other converters. The converter has an MPPT controller for operating the converter to transfer maximum power from coupled photovoltaic devices to its output port. The PV panel has a transparent substrate to which PV devices are mounted. A laminating material seals PV devices and converters to the substrate. In embodiments, the panel has multiple converters connected with output ports in series. The integrated PV panel provides summed maximum powers of each section of PV devices. In some embodiments the DC-DC converters are complete with inductors, in other embodiments a common inductor is shared by multiple converters of the panel, in a particular embodiment the common inductor is parasitic inductance of the panel.

A concentrator photovoltaic module 1M includes a vessel-shaped housing 11 composed of a metal and a flexible printed wiring board 12 provided so as to be in contact with an inner surface of the housing 11. The flexible printed wiring board 12 includes an insulating layer 124, an insulating substrate 121a, a pattern 121b, a plurality of power generation elements 122, and an insulting layer 126. The insulating layer 124 is in contact with a bottom surface 11a of the housing 11. The insulating substrate 121a is provided on the insulating layer 124 and has flexibility. The pattern 121b is composed of a conductor and is provided on the insulating substrate 121a. The plurality of power generation elements 122 are mounted on the pattern 121b. The insulating layer 126 is provided so as to cover an entire surface of the pattern 121b except for portions where the power generation elements 122 are mounted.

A photovoltaic module, having: a substrate, a plurality of photovoltaic structures that are electrically connected to one another and extend over the substrate, each of which comprises at least one photovoltaic cell, and a multilayer electrical connection structure sandwiched between the substrate and the plurality of photovoltaic structures, forming at least one bypass diode for each photovoltaic structure, each bypass diode having: two electrodes electrically connected to the terminals of opposite polarity of the corresponding photovoltaic structure, at least one of the two electrodes extending at least partially underneath the corresponding photovoltaic structure, and a semiconductor portion in contact with the two electrodes via two separate surfaces.

A photovoltaic module incorporates a lamination including a back-sheet, an array of solar cells supported on the back-sheet, and a transparent protective covering over the array of solar cells. The solar cells are arranged in offset or staggered patterns on the back-sheet to present a more random and less rigid industrial appearance to an observer. In some cases, cleaved solar cell segments are arranged into groups that are staggered on the back-sheet. This allows for finer control of the net voltage produced by a module. In other embodiments, full single wafer solar cells are arranged into larger groups, which themselves are staggered on the back-sheet. In either case, the result is a photovoltaic module with an appearance that is more organic and acceptable to homeowners and architects than traditional modules having cells arranged in rigid aligned rows and columns.

A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel is described herein. The solar panel includes a photovoltaic sub-module, which includes a group of microsystem enabled photovoltaic cells. The group includes a first string of photovoltaic cells, a second string of photovoltaic cells, and a differing photovoltaic cell. Photovoltaic cells in the first string are electrically connected in series, and photovoltaic cells in the second string are electrically connected in series. Further, the first string of photovoltaic cells, the second string of photovoltaic cells, and the differing photovoltaic cell are electrically connected in parallel. Moreover, the differing photovoltaic cell is used as a bypass diode for the first string of photovoltaic cells and the second string of photovoltaic cells.

A photovoltaic power generation system that includes a solar panel is described herein. The solar panel includes a photovoltaic sub-module, which includes a group of microsystem enabled photovoltaic cells. The group includes a first string of photovoltaic cells, a second string of photovoltaic cells, and a differing photovoltaic cell. Photovoltaic cells in the first string are electrically connected in series, and photovoltaic cells in the second string are electrically connected in series. Further, the first string of photovoltaic cells, the second string of photovoltaic cells, and the differing photovoltaic cell are electrically connected in parallel. Moreover, the differing photovoltaic cell is used as a bypass diode for the first string of photovoltaic cells and the second string of photovoltaic cells.

Foil trim approaches for the foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. For example, a method involves attaching a metal foil sheet to a metallized surface of an underlying supported wafer to provide a unified pairing of the metal foil sheet and the wafer. Subsequent to attaching the metal foil sheet, a portion of the metal foil sheet is laser scribed from above to form a groove in the metal foil sheet. Subsequent to laser scribing the metal foil sheet, the unified pairing of the metal foil sheet and the wafer is rotated to provide the metal sheet below the wafer. Subsequent to the rotating, the unified pairing of the metal foil sheet and the wafer is placed on a chuck with the metal sheet below the wafer. The metal foil sheet is torn at least along the groove to trim the metal foil sheet.

A photovoltaic string includes a plurality of photovoltaic shingle and a metallic connector; the shingle being glued in pairs, forming a plurality of overlapping surfaces, each overlapping surface having an overlap width, the metallic connector being glued or welded to an end shingle forming a transfer surface, the transfer surface having a transfer width greater than or equal to each of the overlap widths, the active surface of the end shingle preferably being greater than or equal to the active surface of an intermediate shingle.

According to a solar cell panel according to the present embodiment, a connection structure of a wiring unit for connecting a plurality of solar cells comprising first and second solar electrically connected to each other is improved. More particularly, the wiring unit comprises a first extension wiring and a second extension wiring, which correspond to each of the plurality of solar cells, the first extension wiring having a first outer portion extending outwards beyond a first side of a solar cell and a second extension wiring having a second outer portion extending outwards beyond a second side of the solar cell, the second side being opposite to the first side of the solar cell. A second extension wiring of the first solar cell and a first extension wiring of the second solar cell overlap each other to have a connection portion where they are connected to each other, and the connection portion includes an overlapping portion formed by the connection portion overlapping a portion of the first solar cell.

A method for electrical testing of a back contact solar cell applies a first side of a temporary passivation sheet to a frontside of a back contact solar cell, the first side of the temporary passivation sheet comprising at least a transparent dielectric layer. The temporary passivation sheet having a second side opposite the first side and comprising at least a transparent conductive coating. A voltage is applied between the transparent conductive coating and base metallization of the back contact solar cell. The frontside of the back contact solar cell is illuminated through the transparent conductive coating and the transparent dielectric layer. Electrical testing is performed on the back contact solar cell. The temporary passivation sheet is removed from the frontside of the back contact solar cell.