A method includes: a first collector electrodes forming step P1; a second collector electrodes forming step P2 of forming a plurality of second collector electrodes by applying a pasty second collector electrode material; a dividing guidelines forming step P3 of forming on the solar cell a plurality of dividing guidelines, each of which is formed between each two adjacent first collector electrodes and between each two adjacent second collector electrodes; a dividing step P4 of cutting the solar cell along the plurality of dividing guidelines to divide the solar cell into the plurality of small cell pieces; an overlapping step P5 of overlapping the plurality of small cell pieces so as to bring the first collector electrodes and the second collector electrodes cell pieces into abutting contact with each other; and a curing step P6 of curing the second collector electrode material.

A solar module racking system including a frame. The frame includes pre-wired receptacles for rapid assembly of solar modules. The frame receives and mechanically supports each solar module. The frame arranges the solar modules in a first planar direction, in a second planar direction, and in a vertical direction that is normal to the first and second planar directions. Each pre-wired receptacles individually and electrically connect each of the solar modules after insertion of that module into the frame. The solar module racking system provides a 2 by 1 by 1 configuration or a 1 by 2 by 1 configuration for the plurality of solar modules corresponding to the first planar direction, the second planar direction, and the vertical direction. A first module and a second module are arranged in the first planar direction or the second planar direction, respectively.

According to one or more embodiments, an intelligent solar racking system is provided. The intelligent solar racking system includes a racking frame that receives and mechanically supports solar modules. The intelligent solar racking system includes sensors distributed throughout the racking frame. Each of the sensors detects and reports parameter data by generating output signals. The sensors include module sensors positioned to associate with each of the solar modules and detect a module presence as the parameter data for the solar modules. The intelligent solar racking system includes a computing device that receives, stores, and analyzes the output signals to determine and monitor operations of the intelligent solar racking system.

Disclosed is a photovoltaic module (1,2) comprising several serially connected IBC solar cells (100,200,300), wherein each IBC solar cell (100,200,300) has an electrode structure (110,210,310) comprising both a P-type contact electrode structure including at least one P-busbar (112,114,212, 214,312,314) and an N-type electrode structure including at least one N-busbar (116,118,216,218,316,318), wherein at least two of the IBC solar cells (100,200,300) are arranged relative to each other in a partly overlapping manner so that a first region of a back side of a first IBC solar cell (100) is arranged on top of a first region of a front side of a second IBC solar cell (200) and thus creates an overlap region (10,20), wherein at least sections of both the at least one P-busbar (112,114,212,214,312,314) and the at least one N-busbar (116,118,216,218,316,318) of the electrode structure of said first IBC solar cell (100) are located outside of the overlap region (10,30).

A photovoltaic device comprises at least two sub-cells, at least one connecting element electrically connecting adjacent sub-cells to one another, each sub-cell comprising: at least one segment; and at least one connecting element electrically connecting adjacent segments to one another in the event that a sub-cell has more than one segment; each one of the sub-cells having a unique bandgap and being arranged such that bandgaps of the sub-cells are in descending order with respect to a light incident surface of the photovoltaic device, each sub-cell being designed such that all segments of the photovoltaic device produce approximately the same current.

Device for harvesting light from a light source, comprising: First photovoltaic cell having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an array of optical passages therein. Array of optical concentrating elements above the upper surface defining a light acceptance area, each being associated with one of the optical passages, and being structured/arranged to concentrate direct light towards theretowards. Concentrated direct light passing through the first photovoltaic cell via an optical passage and exiting as a non-parallel light beam. Array of optical redirecting elements below the lower surface, each being associated with one of the optical passages; each receiving the light beam from the optical passage with which it is associated and redirecting it optically towards a second photovoltaic cell. Diffuse light passing through the array of optical concentrating elements to upper surface of first photovoltaic cell. Second photovoltaic cell having an active area being smaller than the light acceptance area.

In the solar cell module, a first solar cell and a second solar cell are stacked together with an electroconductive member interposed therebetween, such that a cleaved surface-side periphery on a light-receiving surface of the first solar cell overlaps a periphery on a back surface of the second solar cell. The first solar cell and the second solar cell each have: photoelectric conversion section including a crystalline silicon substrate; collecting electrode; and back electrode. At a section where the first solar cell and the second solar cell are stacked, the collecting electrode of the first solar cell and the back electrode of the second solar cell are electrically connected to each other by coming into contact with the electroconductive member. An insulating member is provided on a part of the cleaved surface-side periphery on the light-receiving surface of the first solar cell, where the collecting electrode is not provided.

A semiconductor device is disclosed, and includes a first sub-cell generating a first electrical current, a second sub-cell generating a second electrical current, and at least one power converter. The first sub-cell and the second sub-cell are electrically coupled to one another in series. The power converter is electrically coupled to both the first sub-cell and the second sub-cell. The power converter introduces a compensating current into at least one of the first sub-cell and the second sub-cell to balance the first electrical current and the second electrical current to be substantially equal to one another.

An integrated thin-film lateral multi-junction solar device and fabrication method are provided. The device includes, for instance, a substrate, and a plurality of stacks extending vertically from the substrate. Each stack may include layers, and be electrically isolated against another stack. Each stack may also include an energy storage device above the substrate, a solar cell above the energy storage device, a transparent medium above the solar cell, and a micro-optic layer of spectrally dispersive and concentrating optical devices above the transparent medium. Furthermore, the device may include a first power converter connected between the energy storage device and a power bus, and a second power converter connected between the solar cell and the power bus. Further, different solar cells of different stacks may have different absorption characteristics.

A solar cell structure is disclosed. The solar cell structure comprises a carrier having a front side and a P-N junction, a solar cell electrically coupled to the front side of the carrier, and an adhesive layer. The adhesive layer bonds the front side of the carrier to the solar cell. The adhesive layer includes conductive particles that electrically couple the carrier to the solar cell.