A colored solar module is provided, in which at least one solar cell is embedded in an encapsulation layer, and a transparent plate is disposed on the encapsulation layer. The transparent plate has a single coating layer containing quartz for attaching onto the encapsulation layer so as to reflect the desired color light.

A method of passive cooling for a high concentrating photovoltaic, the high concentrating photovoltaic, includes a photovoltaic receiver, a parabolic dish reflector and a plurality of thermally conductive heat pipes having a direct thermal contact between the receiver and the reflector to transfer excessive heat. The method includes receiving sunlight by the parabolic dish reflector, reflecting the sunlight towards the photovoltaic receiver that converts the sunlight into electricity and heat, transferring the heat through the thermally conductive heat pipes and absorbing the heat by the reflector serving a dual purpose as a heat sink. A reduction in weight and cost is accomplished by incorporating the flat heat pipes.

Apparatus, methods and systems of wireless power distribution are disclosed. Embodiments involve the redirection of collimated energy to a converter, which stores or converts the energy into a more suitable form of energy for at least one specific point-of-use that is coupled to the converter.

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 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.

The present disclosure relates to adhesives useful in preventing drifting during lamination of light redirecting films applied to photovoltaic cells. The adhesives of the present disclosure have other useful applications in bonding and/or affixing other solar energy components.

A transparent photovoltaic cell is proposed. The transparent photovoltaic cell may include a transparent substrate, a plurality of micro-pillars arranged on an upper part of the transparent substrate and formed with respective transparent windows, through which incident sunlight transmits, on respective upper parts thereof. The transparent photovoltaic cell may also include a photoelectric converter formed on an upper surface of the transparent substrate between each of the plurality of micro-pillars and on side surfaces of each micro-pillar, and configured to generate power through absorption of incident sunlight.

A light redirecting film includes a first layer disposed on a second layer with structured major surfaces of the first and second layers facing each other. An optically reflective layer or a metal layer is disposed between the first and second layers. The first layer can be a hot melt adhesive layer and the second layer can be a polymeric layer. The first and second layers can be unitary layers. The first layer can be a first polymeric layer having a softening temperature T1 and the second layer can be a second polymeric layer having a softening temperature T2 greater than T1. Heating and/or applying pressure to the film changes an optical characteristic of the film by less than about 5%.

A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein the upper first solar subcell covers less than the entire upper surface of the second solar subcell, leaving an exposed portion of the second solar subcell that lies in the path of the incoming light beam.