@article{Schulte-Huxel2016,
title = {High-efficiency modules with passivated emitter and rear solar cells – an analysis of electrical and optical losses*},
author = {H Schulte-Huxel and R Witteck and H Holst and M R Vogt and S Blankemeyer and D Hinken and T Brendemühl and T Dullweber and K Bothe and M Köntges and R Brendel},
doi = {10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2614121},
issn = {2156-3381},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-01-01},
journal = {IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics},
volume = {7},
number = {1},
pages = {25-31},
abstract = {We process a photovoltaic (PV) module with 120 half passivated emitter and rear cells that exhibits an independently confirmed power of 303.2 W and a module efficiency of 20.2% (aperture area). The cells are optimized for operation within the module. We enhance light harvesting from the inactive spacing between the cells and the cell interconnect ribbons. Additionally, we reduce the inactive area to below 3% of the aperture module area. The impact of these measures is analyzed by ray-tracing simulations of the module. Using a numerical model, we analyze and predict the module performance based on the individual cell measurements and the optical simulations. We determine the power loss due to series interconnection of the solar cells to be 1.5%. This is compensated by a gain in current of 1.8% caused by the change of the optical environment of the cells in the module. We achieve a good agreement between simulations and experiments, both showing no cell-to-module power loss.},
keywords = {cell interconnection, Current measurement, loss analysis, Optical interconnections, Optical losses, passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC), photovoltaic (PV) module, Photovoltaic cells, Photovoltaic systems, ray tracing, Resistance, Silicon solar cell, Standards},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{Witteck2016b,
title = {Optimized interconnection of passivated emitter and rear cells by experimentally verified modeling},
author = {R Witteck and D Hinken and M R Vogt and J Müller and S Blankemeyer and H Schulte-Huxel and M Köntges and K Bothe and R Brendel},
doi = {10.1109/JPHOTOV.2016.2514706},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-03-01},
journal = {IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics},
volume = {6},
number = {2},
pages = {432-439},
abstract = {Recent reports about new cell efficiency records are highlighting the continuing development of passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC). Additionally, volume production has started, forming the basis for cutting edge solar modules. However, transferring the high efficiency of the cells into a module requires an adaptation of the conventional front metallization and of the cell interconnection design. This paper studies and compares the module output of various cell interconnection technologies, including conventional cell interconnection ribbons and wires. We fabricate solar cells and characterize their electrical and optical properties. From the cells, we build experimental modules with various cell interconnection technologies. We determine the optical and electrical characteristics of the experimental modules. Based on our experimental results, we develop an analytical model that reproduces the power output of the experimental modules within the measurement uncertainty. The analytical model is then applied to simulate various cell interconnection technologies employing halved cells, optical enhanced cell interconnectors, and multiwires. We also consider the effect of enhancing the cell-to-cell spacing. Based on the experimentally verified simulations, we propose an optimized cell interconnection for a 60-PERC module that achieves a power output of 323 W. Our simulations reveal that wires combined with halved cells show the best module performance. However, applying light-harvesting structures to the cell interconnection ribbons is an attractive alternative for upgrading existing production lines.},
keywords = {cell interconnection, Conductivity, Optical device fabrication, Optical variables measurement, passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC), Photovoltaic cells, Resistance, Silicon solar cell, solar module, Thyristors, Wires},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{Schulte-Huxel2015b,
title = {Analysis of thermal processes driving laser-welding of aluminum deposited on glass substrates for module interconnection of silicon solar cells},
author = {H Schulte-Huxel and S Kajari-Schröder and R Brendel},
doi = {10.1109/JPHOTOV.2015.2478027},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-11-01},
journal = {IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics},
volume = {5},
number = {6},
pages = {1606-1612},
keywords = {Al metallization, Aluminum, cell interconnection, Finite element analysis, finite-element method (FEM) simulations, Glass, laser processing, metallization, module integration, Surface morphology, Surface treatment, Welding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@inproceedings{Schulte-Huxel2015,
title = {Thermal processes driving laser-welding for module interconnection},
author = {H Schulte-Huxel and S Kajari-Schröder and R Brendel},
editor = {IEEE},
doi = {10.1109/PVSC.2015.7356432},
isbn = {978-1-4799-7944-8},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-06-14},
booktitle = {2015 IEEE 42nd Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC)},
journal = {Proceedings of the 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference},
address = {New Orleans, LA, USA},
keywords = {Al metallization, Aluminum, cell interconnection, FEM simulations, Laser beams, laser processing, Measurement by laser beam, module integration, reliability, Thickness measurement, Welding},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {inproceedings}
}

@article{SCHULTEHUXEL2014356,
title = {Laser-welded Interconnection of Screen-printed Si Solar Cells},
author = {H Schulte-Huxel and S Blankemeyer and V Steckenreiter and S Kajari-Schröder and R Brendel},
doi = {10.1016/j.egypro.2014.08.102},
issn = {1876-6102},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-09-19},
journal = {Energy Procedia},
volume = {55},
pages = {356-360},
note = {Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics (SiliconPV 2014)},
keywords = {Al metallization, Al paste, cell interconnection, Laser micro welding, module integration, PERC solar cells, Screen printed solar cells},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}

@article{SCHULTEHUXEL2014361,
title = {Two-level Metallization and Module Integration of Point-contacted Solar Cells},
author = {H Schulte-Huxel and U Römer and S Blankemeyer and A Merkle and Y Larionova and V Steckenreiter and R Peibst and S Kajari-Schroeder and R Brendel},
doi = {10.1016/j.egypro.2014.08.104},
issn = {1876-6102},
year = {2014},
date = {2014-09-19},
journal = {Energy Procedia},
volume = {55},
pages = {361-368},
note = {Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Crystalline Silicon Photovoltaics (SiliconPV 2014)},
keywords = {Al metallization, back junction back contact, cell interconnection, Laser micro welding, module integration, point contact solar cells},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}