This specification describes automated reel processes for producing solar modules and solar module reels. In some examples, a method includes receiving a continuous feed of photovoltaic devices on a photovoltaic device sheet. The method includes locating and bypassing one or more defective photovoltaic devices on the photovoltaic device sheet. The method includes installing bussing for the photovoltaic devices on the photovoltaic device sheet. The method includes feeding the photovoltaic device sheet to an encapsulation system to output a photovoltaic module sheet.

An adhesively bonded dashboard including a solar module, and methods of manufacture pertaining thereto, are provided. The dashboard may be decorative in terms of an aesthetically pleasing texture and/or color. The solar cells contained therein may be curved along one axis of curvature to form one or more desirable shapes.

An adhesively bonded dashboard including a solar module, and methods of manufacture pertaining thereto, are provided. The dashboard may be decorative in terms of an aesthetically pleasing texture and/or color. The solar cells contained therein may be curved along one axis of curvature to form one or more desirable shapes.

Provided is a solar cell, including: an N-type semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; a boron diffusion layer arranged on the front surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate, a first passivation layer is provided on a surface of the boron diffusion layer, and a first electrode is provided passing through the first passivation layer to form an electrical connection with the N-type semiconductor substrate; and a phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer arranged on the rear surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate. A silicon oxide layer containing nitrogen and phosphorus is provided between the rear surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate and the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer, a second passivation layer is provided on a surface of the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer, and a second electrode is provided passing through the second passivation layer to form an electrical connection with the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer.

Provided is a solar cell, including: an N-type semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface; a boron diffusion layer arranged on the front surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate, a first passivation layer is provided on a surface of the boron diffusion layer, and a first electrode is provided passing through the first passivation layer to form an electrical connection with the N-type semiconductor substrate; and a phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer arranged on the rear surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate. A silicon oxide layer containing nitrogen and phosphorus is provided between the rear surface of the N-type semiconductor substrate and the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer, a second passivation layer is provided on a surface of the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer, and a second electrode is provided passing through the second passivation layer to form an electrical connection with the phosphorus-doped polysilicon layer.

The present invention relates a photovoltaic module comprising a protective front layer element, an encapsulation layer element, a photovoltaic cell element and a protective back layer element, whereby at least one of the protective elements comprises glass; wherein the encapsulation layer element comprises a polymer composition (I) comprising at least the following components: (A) 97.00 to 99.99 wt.-% based on the overall weight of the polymer composition (I) of a polymer selected from an ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, a polyolefin elastomer or a polymer of ethylene (a) selected from (a1) a copolymer of ethylene which bears functional groups containing units; (a2) a copolymer of ethylene comprising one or more polar comonomer unit(s) selected from (C1-C6)-alkyl acrylate or (C1-C6)-alkyl (C1-C6)-alkyl acrylate comonomer units, and optionally bears functional groups containing units different from said polar comonomer unit(s); (a3) a copolymer of ethylene comprising one or more alpha-olefin comonomer unit(s); and optionally bears functional groups containing units different from said polar comonomer unit(s) of polymer (a2); or mixtures thereof; and (b) silane group(s) containing units; (B) 0.01 to 3.00 wt.-% based on the overall weight of the polymer composition (I) of a compound according to Formula (I); wherein; R.sub.1, R.sub.1′, R.sub.2 and R.sub.2′ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, n-alkyl, iso-alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, halogen and mixtures thereof; X is selected from the group consisting of primary amines, secondary amines, tertiary amines, hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, the present invention refers to the use of an encapsulation layer element comprising polymer composition (I) according to the invention for increasing the P.sub.max determined after 96 h according to IEC 60904, by applying the foil method with a temperature of 85° C. and relative humidity of 60% and a potential difference of 1500 V, of a photovoltaic module comprising besides the encapsulation layer element a protective front layer element, a photovoltaic cell element and a protective back element, whereby at least one of the protective elements comprises glass.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates a photovoltaic module comprising a protective front layer element, an encapsulation layer element, a photovoltaic cell element and a protective back layer element, whereby at least one of the protective elements comprises glass; wherein the encapsulation layer element comprises a polymer composition (I) comprising at least the following components: (A) 97.00 to 99.99 wt.-% based on the overall weight of the polymer composition (I) of a polymer selected from an ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer, a polyolefin elastomer or a polymer of ethylene (a) selected from (a1) a copolymer of ethylene which bears functional groups containing units; (a2) a copolymer of ethylene comprising one or more polar comonomer unit(s) selected from (C1-C6)-alkyl acrylate or (C1-C6)-alkyl (C1-C6)-alkyl acrylate comonomer units, and optionally bears functional groups containing units different from said polar comonomer unit(s); (a3) a copolymer of ethylene comprising one or more alpha-olefin comonomer unit(s); and optionally bears functional groups containing units different from said polar comonomer unit(s) of polymer (a2); or mixtures thereof; and (b) silane group(s) containing units; (B) 0.01 to 3.00 wt.-% based on the overall weight of the polymer composition (I) of a compound according to Formula (I); wherein; R.sub.1, R.sub.1′, R.sub.2 and R.sub.2′ are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, n-alkyl, iso-alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, halogen and mixtures thereof; X is selected from the group consisting of primary amines, secondary amines, tertiary amines, hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl and mixtures thereof. Furthermore, the present invention refers to the use of an encapsulation layer element comprising polymer composition (I) according to the invention for increasing the P.sub.max determined after 96 h according to IEC 60904, by applying the foil method with a temperature of 85° C. and relative humidity of 60% and a potential difference of 1500 V, of a photovoltaic module comprising besides the encapsulation layer element a protective front layer element, a photovoltaic cell element and a protective back element, whereby at least one of the protective elements comprises glass.

##STR00001##

A modular solar panel including multiple solar panel modules. Each solar panel module includes multiple solar cell assemblies. Each solar cell assembly includes a protective glass, a base plate, a solar cell array located therebetween, and an electrical connection ribbons extending from the ends of the solar cell array. The solar panel module further includes multiple coupling modules. Each coupling module includes an interior cavity to receive one end of the solar cell assembly, a pin joint located on exterior of a first coupling module to interlock with a pin joint located on exterior of a second coupling module, and an electrical connection plug to receive one of the first and the second electrical connection ribbons. The electrical connection plug of the first coupling module electrically connects with an electrical connection plug of the second coupling module.

A modular solar panel including multiple solar panel modules. Each solar panel module includes multiple solar cell assemblies. Each solar cell assembly includes a protective glass, a base plate, a solar cell array located therebetween, and an electrical connection ribbons extending from the ends of the solar cell array. The solar panel module further includes multiple coupling modules. Each coupling module includes an interior cavity to receive one end of the solar cell assembly, a pin joint located on exterior of a first coupling module to interlock with a pin joint located on exterior of a second coupling module, and an electrical connection plug to receive one of the first and the second electrical connection ribbons. The electrical connection plug of the first coupling module electrically connects with an electrical connection plug of the second coupling module.

A system includes a roof deck having a slope of 0.25 inch to 3 inches per foot and a roofing membrane is composed of a first material, and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet. The backsheet is composed of the first material. At least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane.