Chapter Three - Crystalline Silicon PV Module Technology

Abstract

Abstract Crystalline silicon module technology aims to turn solar cells into safe and reliable products, while maximizing efficiency. The chapter highlights fundamental challenges comprising cell interconnection and cell encapsulation. Interconnection controls electrical losses from current collection and transfer, and impacts active conversion area as a side effect. Encapsulation is mainly responsible for overall optical performance, reliability, and safety. The chapter discusses efficiency loss and gain mechanisms from cell to module, typically totaling 10–15%. Module efficiency suffers from an increase in inactive area, from serial resistance losses, and from absorption losses. Gains from reduced reflection losses at interfaces often arise after encapsulation. Best results are obtained by carefully matching cell and module design. While the process steps of mainstream module manufacturing have hardly changed over the last decades, new materials have been introduced and full automation with comprehensive quality assurance is now widely adopted. The chapter closes with a presentation on alternative module concepts that hold promise to increase electrical and optical efficiency, and to reduce module manufacturing cost.