A spacecraft (10), comprising a body (12), a solar array (30) with a support panel (32) which is connected to the body, and a thermal radiator (50) that is connected to the body and which includes a radiator substrate (52) that is thermally coupled to the body via at least one heat link (64). The solar array and thermal radiator are configured to be transitioned from a stowed state wherein the support panel and the radiator substrate are held fixed in an overlapping arrangement along and near the body, to a deployed state wherein the solar array is unfolded with the support panel positioned at a distance from the body and the radiator substrate is folded away from the body and the solar array.

Preferably, the solar array and thermal radiator are flexible, to allow them to be kept in an overlapping and temporarily bent shape in the stowed state.

A solar cell module includes a plurality of cell strings having a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell having a semiconductor substrate, and a first conductivity-type electrode and a second conductivity-type electrode provided on a first surface of the semiconductor substrate, an interconnector electrically connecting a first conductivity-type electrode of a first solar cell, among the plurality of solar cells included in the plurality of cell strings, and a second conductivity-type electrode of a second solar cell adjacent to the first solar cell in a first direction, to connect the first and second solar cells in series, and a first shield positioned on a front surface of the interconnector between the first and second solar cells, and extending in a second direction crossing the first direction.

A method of manufacturing a solar cell assembly by providing a substrate; depositing on the substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell; mounting a permanent laminate supporting member with a thickness of 50 microns or less on top of the sequence of layers; utilizing the laminate structure for supporting the epitaxial sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell during the processes of removing the substrate and depositing and lithographically patterning a plurality of metal grid lines disposed on the top surface of the first solar subcell, and attaching a cover glass over at least the grid lines of the solar cell.

Provided is a solar cell, a shingled photovoltaic module, and a method for manufacturing solar cell, the solar cell includes a body portion, a first extending portion and a second extending portion provided at two ends of the body portion; a thickness of the body portion is greater than a thickness of the first extending portion and a thickness of the second extending portion. In the shingled photovoltaic module, adjacent solar cells can be electrically connected through the first extending portion and the second extending portion, and the adjacent solar cells do not need to be stacked in a thickness direction to achieve electrical connection, so that space in the thickness direction occupied by the stacked solar cells is reduced, and light-receiving area of the solar cell is not decreased, thereby improving photoelectric conversion efficiency of the solar cell, reducing the number of solar cells required, and saving cost.

A photovoltaic cell array and a photovoltaic module are provided. The photovoltaic cell array includes multiple solar cells and a flexible metal conductive strip. Each of an upper surface and a lower surface of each solar cell is arranged with a segment electrode. In adjacent two solar cells which are respectively referred to as a first solar cell and a second solar cell, the segment electrode on the lower surface of the first solar cell is connected with the segment electrode on the upper surface of the second solar cell by the flexible metal conductive strip. The photovoltaic cell array has a stack structure in a normal direction of the upper surface of the solar cell, and a connection region at which the segment electrode is connected with the flexible metal conductive strip is located outside an overlapped region of the stack structure.

A solar system comprises at least one solar panel with a plurality of solar cells. The solar panels include first and second split-circuits to extract electrical energy from the solar panel. The first split-circuit includes solar panel wires that electrically connect, in series, the solar cells of the first split-circuit to extract electrical energy from the solar panel. Similarly, the second split-circuit includes solar panel wires that electrically connect, in series, the solar cells of the second split-circuit to extract electrical energy from the solar panel. The first and second split-circuits are configured to generate a voltage not to exceed a voltage specification, such as a voltage specification of 35 volts.

A method for producing a mosaic solar cell assembly, comprising the steps of singulating a III-V compound circular semiconductor solar cell wafer having a wafer surface area into four discrete solar cell mosaic elements each substantially shaped as a quadrant of a circle; selecting a first and second solar cell mosaic element each having one curved edge in the shape of an arc of the circumference of the circular wafer from which the element was singulated, and three straight edges; and rearranging and positioning the first and second mosaic elements into a substantially rectangular mosaic assembly.

A solar cell of an embodiment includes: a transparent substrate; a p-electrode on the substrate, the p-electrode including a first p-electrode containing an Sn-based metal oxide, a second p-electrode having an opening and consisting of a wiring containing a metal or graphene, and a third p-electrode containing an In-based metal oxide; a p-type light absorbing layer in direct contact with a surface of the first p-electrode on a side opposite to the second p-electrode side; an n-type layer provided on the p-type light absorbing layer; and an n-electrode provided on the n-type layer. The third p-electrode is provided to be present between the first p-electrode and the second p-electrode and to be in direct contact with an upper surface of the second p-electrode. An entire side surface of the second p-electrode is in direct contact with the first p-electrode.

Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures, and their methods of manufacture, are described. For example, a solar cell string includes a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect including a strain relief feature.