Performance of a new type of module based on back-contact solar cells

Jonathan Govaerts; Jo Robbelein; Chun Gong; Bartek J. Pawlak; Mario Gonzalez; Ingrid De Wolf; Frederick Bossuyt; Steven Van Put; Ivan Gordon; Kris Baert; Jan Vanfleteren

doi:10.1117/12.859815

19 August 2010 Performance of a new type of module based on back-contact solar cells

Jonathan Govaerts, Jo Robbelein, Chun Gong, Bartek J. Pawlak, Mario Gonzalez, Ingrid De Wolf, Frederick Bossuyt, Steven Van Put, Ivan Gordon, Kris Baert, Jan Vanfleteren

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7773, Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems III; 77730X (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.859815
Event: SPIE Solar Energy + Technology, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Imec has developed a new technology to integrate and interconnect back-contact solar cells into modules, based on embedding cells in silicone on top of a glass substrate. This technology aims at an improved optical performance and reliability (through the use of silicones and low-temperature metallization). One of the additional advantages is that the technology is suitable for integrating very thin cells into modules: whereas standalone interconnection of such fragile thin cells, e.g. tabbing and stringing, would significantly lower the throughput yield due to breakage, the cells are better protected if they are embedded inside silicone. The paper will first elaborate on the process flow, the background and motivation, advantages, drawbacks and limitations, and technical aspects of the developed technology. Then it will present the results of the measurements on the performance of functional solar cells processed into modules using this technology, discussing losses and loss mechanisms. Then, the approach towards determining the reliability of the module will be presented, indicating how imec aims at building up an ageing model, and elaborating the results on the failure mode and effect analysis, modeling, characterization and reliability testing.

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Jonathan Govaerts, Jo Robbelein, Chun Gong, Bartek J. Pawlak, Mario Gonzalez, Ingrid De Wolf, Frederick Bossuyt, Steven Van Put, Ivan Gordon, Kris Baert, and Jan Vanfleteren "Performance of a new type of module based on back-contact solar cells", Proc. SPIE 7773, Reliability of Photovoltaic Cells, Modules, Components, and Systems III, 77730X (19 August 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.859815

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