Title:	Real Benefits from Conductive Backsheets for Back-Contacted Solar Modules
Author(s):	G.J.W. Meijers, P. di Lorenzo, P. Pasmans, I. Suez, I.J. Bennett
Topic:	Photovoltaic Modules and BoS Components
Subtopic:	PV Module Design, Manufacture, Performance and Reliability
Event:	37th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition
Session:	4AV.1.18
ISBN:	3-936338-73-6
Price:	0,00 EUR
Document(s):	poster

Abstract/Summary:

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Back-contact solar modules have several advantages when compared to conventional tabbed modules. Commercial modules made with crystalline silicon back-contacted cells have, to-date, amongst the highest peak power density on the market and are predicted to retain this advantage for the coming years. This is primarily possible due to the high efficiency of back-contact cells such as the interdigitated back contact (IBC) that consistently lead in the cell record tables for crystalline silicon [2]. Apart from utilizing high efficiency cells, backcontact solar modules also take advantage of innovative cell interconnection techniques that minimize cell to module losses (CTM). The most promising technique is to use a conductive back-sheet to connect the rear of the cells and form the electrical circuit [3]. We will refer to back-contact solar modules with a conductive back-sheet simply as back-contact solar modules. With this article we intend to highlight not only the aforementioned higher peak power than a reference tabbed module but also additional benefits such as module design flexibility, lower nominal operating temperature (NOCT) and higher energy yield under low irradiance. These benefits combined result in a significant (exact value to be estimated via modelling) overall increase in yearly energy yield per square meter at a given location.