The invention relates to a device for interconnecting photovoltaic cells having contacts on their back side, comprising at least one layer of a woven produced from electrically insulating fibers, comprising at least one thread or tape section made of an electrically conductive material woven with said fibers and arranged so as to be flush with the surface of at least one region of the woven in order to form an electrical contact region intended to be connected to a contact pad located on the back side of a cell. The invention also relates to a module of interconnected photovoltaic cells having contacts on the back side, comprising an interconnecting device arranged along the back side of the cells, and a process for manufacturing such a module.

A bus bar for solar cell component is provided. The bus bar includes a first copper ribbon, a second copper ribbon, a third copper ribbon and a fourth copper ribbon connected end-to-end. A first diode electrically bridges the first and the second copper ribbon; a second diode electrically bridges the second and the third copper ribbon; and a third diode electrically bridges the third and the fourth copper ribbon. A first electrical energy output terminal is formed at an end of the first copper ribbon corresponding to the second copper ribbon, and a second electrical energy output terminal is formed at an end of the fourth copper ribbon corresponding to the third copper ribbon.

A solar cell can include a conductive foil having a first portion with a first yield strength coupled to a semiconductor region of the solar cell. The solar cell can be interconnected with another solar cell via an interconnect structure that includes a second portion of the conductive foil, with the interconnect structure having a second yield strength greater than the first yield strength.

Provided are novel methods of fabricating photovoltaic modules using pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA) to secure wire networks of interconnect assemblies to one or both surfaces of photovoltaic cells. A PSA having suitable characteristics is provided near the interface between the wire network and the cell's surface. It may be provided together as part of the interconnect assembly or as a separate component. The interconnect assembly may also include a liner, which may remain as a part of the module or may be removed later. The PSA may be distributed in a void-free manner by applying some heat and/or pressure. The PSA may then be cured by, for example, exposing it to UV radiation to increase its mechanical stability at high temperatures, in particular at a, for example the maximum, operating temperature of the photovoltaic module. For example, the modulus of the PSA may be substantially increased during this curing operation.

A solar module and manufacturing method for the solar module are provided which are able to reduce problems caused by thermal stress. The solar module (1) includes a solar cell (10), a wiring member (11), and an adhesive layer (12). The wiring member (11) is arranged on a surface of the solar cell (10). The adhesive layer (12) is made of resin. The adhesive layer (12) has wide portions (12a) and narrow portions (12b) along the longitudinal direction of the wiring member (11). The solar module (1) has a region at least to the outside of the narrow portions (12b) in which the wiring member (11) and the surface of the solar cell (10) face each other without an interposing adhesive layer (12).

A flexible printed wiring board includes a first strip-shaped member and a second strip-shaped member each including a conductive part and an insulating part covering the conductive part; and a first connecting member including a conductive part and an insulating part covering the conductive part, the first connecting member connecting a first end of the first strip-shaped member and a first end of the second strip-shaped member to each other. The conductive parts of the first strip-shaped member, the second strip-shaped member, and the first connecting member are continuous with each other. The first strip-shaped member and the second strip-shaped member are capable of being linearly arranged when the first connecting member is bent and the first end of the first strip-shaped member and the first end of the second strip-shaped member face each other.

Provided are novel building integrable photovoltaic (BIPV) structures having multiple photovoltaic portions offset with respect to each other along their lengths. An offset direction can correspond to the length of a row of installed BIPV structures. In some embodiments, a BIPV structure may include three offset photovoltaic portions and three corresponding flap portions for extending under photovoltaic portions of adjacent structures and sealing interfaces between installed structures. The novel BIPV structures can facilitate installation, while providing the flexibility to avoid obstacles. Provided also are novel BIPV assemblies having multi-conductor return lines extending through the assemblies. A BIPV assembly having a multi-conductor return line may include a return line for the assembly itself, and one or more return lines for other assemblies.

System and method of providing a photovoltaic (PV) cell having a cushion layer to alleviate stress impact between a front metal contact and a thin film PV layer. A cushion layer is disposed between an extraction electrode and a photovoltaic (PV) surface. The cushion layer is made of a nonconductive material and has a plurality of vias filled with a conductive material to provide electrical continuity between the bus bar and the PV layer. The cushion layer may be made of a flexible material preferably with rigidity that matches the substrate. Thus, the cushion layer can effectively protect the PV layer from physical damage due to tactile contact with the front metal contact.

A solar cell module includes: two solar cells, each including: a first main face and a second main face; a first electrode on the first main face, comprising a bus-bar electrode having at least one of an opening portion, notch portion, and gap portion; and a second electrode on the first or second main face having a polarity opposite to that of the first electrode; a wiring member that electrically connects the first electrode of one solar cell to the second electrode of another solar cell; and an electrically conductive connection layer that contacts the wiring member and the first main face.

Approaches for the foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the substrate. A conductive contact structure is disposed above the plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The conductive contact structure includes a plurality of metal seed material regions providing a metal seed material region disposed on each of the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. A metal foil is disposed on the plurality of metal seed material regions, the metal foil having anodized portions isolating metal regions of the metal foil corresponding to the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions.