A flexible, CPV array having high incident light conversion efficiency, the CPV array comprising: a reflective surface; a plurality of photovoltaic cells configurable to collect radiation from the reflective surface; a concentrating lens (optics) configurable to concentrate the incident light onto the reflective surface and onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and a conductor adapted to conduct electricity and heat from the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the CPV array is exposed to incident solar radiation to generate electricity without an incident solar tracking mechanism.

A flexible, CPV array having high incident light conversion efficiency, the CPV array comprising: a reflective surface; a plurality of photovoltaic cells configurable to collect radiation from the reflective surface; a concentrating lens (optics) configurable to concentrate the incident light onto the reflective surface and onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and a conductor adapted to conduct electricity and heat from the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the CPV array is exposed to incident solar radiation to generate electricity without an incident solar tracking mechanism.

A solar cell module is discussed, which includes a plurality of strings each including a plurality of solar cells, which are connected in series to one another through an interconnector, a front transparent substrate disposed on front surfaces of the plurality of strings, a first encapsulant disposed between the front transparent substrate and the front surfaces of the plurality of strings, a first reflector disposed in a first space between the plurality of solar cells included in each string, which are separated from one another in a first direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of each string, and a second reflector disposed in a second space between the plurality of strings, which are separated from one another in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second reflectors reflect incident light.

A solar cell module is discussed, which includes a plurality of strings each including a plurality of solar cells, which are connected in series to one another through an interconnector, a front transparent substrate disposed on front surfaces of the plurality of strings, a first encapsulant disposed between the front transparent substrate and the front surfaces of the plurality of strings, a first reflector disposed in a first space between the plurality of solar cells included in each string, which are separated from one another in a first direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of each string, and a second reflector disposed in a second space between the plurality of strings, which are separated from one another in a second direction crossing the first direction. The first and second reflectors reflect incident light.

An engineered substrate comprises: a seed layer made of a first semiconductor material for growth of a solar cell; a support substrate comprising a base and a surface layer epitaxially grown on a first side of the base, the base and the surface layer made of a second semiconductor material; a direct bonding interface between the seed layer and the surface layer; wherein a doping concentration of the surface layer is higher than a predetermined value such that the electrical resistivity at the direct bonding interface is below 10 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2, preferably below 1 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2; and wherein a doping concentration of the base as well as the thickness of the engineered substrate are such that absorption of the engineered substrate is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, and total area-normalized series resistance of the engineered substrate is less than 10 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2, preferably less than 1 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2.

An engineered substrate comprises: a seed layer made of a first semiconductor material for growth of a solar cell; a support substrate comprising a base and a surface layer epitaxially grown on a first side of the base, the base and the surface layer made of a second semiconductor material; a direct bonding interface between the seed layer and the surface layer; wherein a doping concentration of the surface layer is higher than a predetermined value such that the electrical resistivity at the direct bonding interface is below 10 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2, preferably below 1 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2; and wherein a doping concentration of the base as well as the thickness of the engineered substrate are such that absorption of the engineered substrate is less than 20%, preferably less than 10%, and total area-normalized series resistance of the engineered substrate is less than 10 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2, preferably less than 1 mOhm.Math.cm.sup.2.

Flat top beam laser processing schemes are disclosed for producing various types of hetero-junction and homo-junction solar cells. The methods include base and emitter contact opening, back surface field formation, selective doping, and metal ablation. Also, laser processing schemes are disclosed that are suitable for selective amorphous silicon ablation and selective doping for hetero-junction solar cells. These laser processing techniques may be applied to semiconductor substrates, including crystalline silicon substrates, and further including crystalline silicon substrates which are manufactured either through wire saw wafering methods or via epitaxial deposition processes, that are either planar or textured/three-dimensional. These techniques are highly suited to thin crystalline semiconductor, including thin crystalline silicon films.

A photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells, and a polymeric film positioned on an incident light side of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the polymeric film transmits a range of wavelengths of the incident light spectrum and specularly reflects wavelengths outside of the range. An encapsulant layer is in contact with the polymeric film. The polymeric film may have a first surface area larger than a second surface area of the layer of photovoltaic cells. The polymeric film may have one or more through-holes so that encapsulant can penetrate through the through-holes at elevated temperature during lamination thereby bonding to a front glass of the photovoltaic module.

A photovoltaic module comprises a plurality of photovoltaic cells, and a polymeric film positioned on an incident light side of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the polymeric film transmits a range of wavelengths of the incident light spectrum and specularly reflects wavelengths outside of the range. An encapsulant layer is in contact with the polymeric film. The polymeric film may have a first surface area larger than a second surface area of the layer of photovoltaic cells. The polymeric film may have one or more through-holes so that encapsulant can penetrate through the through-holes at elevated temperature during lamination thereby bonding to a front glass of the photovoltaic module.

A method for producing a rear-side contact system for a silicon thin-film solar cell having pn junction formed from a silicon absorber layer and an emitter layer includes applying an organic insulation layer to the emitter layer; producing contact holes in the insulation layer as far as the absorber layer and the emitter layer; subsequently insulating the contact holes; subsequently applying a low-melting metal layer to form n and p contacts in the contact holes; separating the metal layer into n-contacting and p-contacting regions by laser-cutting; before applying the organic insulation layer to the emitter layer, applying a TCO layer; producing holes for contacts for the silicon absorber layer in the organic insulation; and subsequently selectively doping the produced holes for the contacts as far as the silicon absorber layer.