A photovoltaic apparatus is provided including a back sheet and a photovoltaic device disposed over the back sheet. The photovoltaic device includes an array of photovoltaic cells extending in a first direction; and a plurality of serial interconnects having a length that extends in a second direction, wherein each serial interconnect is disposed between and electrically connects consecutive photovoltaic cells of the array. The photovoltaic apparatus further includes a front sheet disposed over the photovoltaic device, the front sheet having a plurality of structures, wherein each structure has one or more edges aligned with one of the serial interconnects.

A solar cell assembly includes a plurality of solar cells and an inter-cell region provided between adjacent ones of the solar cells included in the plurality of solar cells. Each of the solar cells and the inter-cell region includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type and having a first main surface and a second main surface that face away from each other; a first amorphous semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type and being provided on a first main surface side of the semiconductor substrate; an insulating layer provided on part of the first amorphous semiconductor layer; and a first transparent conductive film provided on the first amorphous semiconductor layer so as to cover the insulating layer. In a plan view of the solar cell assembly, the insulating layer is provided along the inter-cell region and partially overlapping the inter-cell region.

There is provided a solar panel including: solar cells each of which is formed in a belt-shape extending in a predetermined direction on a plate-shaped surface and which are disposed in rows in a cell-width direction; a partition area that divides the solar cells from each other; and a connecting part that connects adjoining solar cells among the solar cells electrically in series at respective ends in the extending direction. The solar cells have, across at least two of the solar cells, a transparent power generation area in which a power generation area and a transparent area are alternately disposed in the extending direction. The transparent power generation area extends over an entire cell width of at least one of the solar cells, and the connecting part is disposed at each of opposite ends in the extending direction of the at least one solar cell.

There is provided a solar panel including: solar cells each of which is formed in a belt-shape extending in a predetermined direction on a plate-shaped surface and which are disposed in rows in a cell-width direction; a partition area that divides the solar cells from each other; and a connecting part that connects adjoining solar cells among the solar cells electrically in series at respective ends in the extending direction. The solar cells have, across at least two of the solar cells, a transparent power generation area in which a power generation area and a transparent area are alternately disposed in the extending direction. The transparent power generation area extends over an entire cell width of at least one of the solar cells, and the connecting part is disposed at each of opposite ends in the extending direction of the at least one solar cell.

A thin film solar cell, including a substrate and a plurality of cell units disposed on the substrate, each cell unit includes a back electrode layer, a light absorbing layer, a buffer layer, and an upper electrode layer which are sequentially disposed. A first groove throughout the back electrode layer is disposed between the back electrode layers of any two adjacent cell units; the first groove is filled with an insulating portion. A second groove throughout the light absorbing layer and the buffer layer is disposed in each cell unit, the upper electrode layer of this cell unit extends to the second groove of this cell unit to contact the back electrode layer of the other cell unit of the two adjacent cell units. A third groove is disposed between the two adjacent cell units, the third groove insulate the upper electrode layers of the two adjacent cell units.

In embodiments, a photovoltaic cell has an expanded metal article configured as a mesh, a semiconductor material, and a front metallic article. The expanded metal article has a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings, and has a plurality of cuts in the mesh. The expanded metal article is electrically coupled to a back surface of the semiconductor material. The front metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled to a front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged on the photovoltaic cell to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.

In embodiments, a photovoltaic cell has an expanded metal article configured as a mesh, a semiconductor material, and a front metallic article. The expanded metal article has a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings, and has a plurality of cuts in the mesh. The expanded metal article is electrically coupled to a back surface of the semiconductor material. The front metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled to a front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged on the photovoltaic cell to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.

Thin-film solar cell modules and serial cell-to-cell interconnect structures and methods of fabrication are described. In an embodiment, a solar cell interconnect includes a bypass diode between adjacent solar cells to allow the flow of current around a single solar cell.

A method and apparatus directed to busbar components for photovoltaic modules.

A method and apparatus directed to busbar components for photovoltaic modules.