WO2012015307A1

WO2012015307A1 - Solar cell module and method for manufacturing such a module

Info

Publication number: WO2012015307A1
Application number: PCT/NL2011/050547
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paulus Cornelis De Jong; Ian John Bennett; Markus Johan Jansen
Original assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum Nederland
Priority date: 2010-07-30
Filing date: 2011-07-29
Publication date: 2012-02-02
Also published as: NL2005180C2

Abstract

A solar cell module for back-contacted solar cells includes in a layer a number of back- contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means. The planar contacting means is arranged for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence, and is a layered connection structure with a first stratum and a second stratum. The first stratum is arranged between the layer of the solar cells and the second stratum. A first pair of adjacent solar cells is connected in series along a first conductive path in the first stratum and one solar cell of the first pair is connected in series to a next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence along a second conductive path in the second stratum.

Description

Solar cell module and method for manufacturing such a module

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a solar cell module according to the preamble of claim 1. Also, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing such a module.

Prior art

Solar cell modules comprising one or more monolithic solar cells are known from the prior art. Monolithic solar cells are in plate form and characteristically comprise a semiconductor substrate, which may be either single-crystal or polycrystalline. The semiconductor substrate comprises a photoactive surface which under incident light can carry out a photoelectric conversion, with the result that electric power can be generated.

A solar cell module of the prior art comprises a glass plate, a first plastic joining layer, a plurality of monolithic solar cell(s), electrical interconnectors, a second plastic joining layer and a supporting rear-side coversheet or glass plate.

The photoactive surface of the solar cell faces towards the glass plate, also known as the superstate, and is joined to a surface of the glass plate by means of the first plastic joining layer. The other surface of the solar cell, remote from the glass plate, is joined to the supporting rear-side coversheet or glass plate by means of the second plastic joining layer.

Monolithic solar cell types can be provided with a rear-side contacting structure, i.e. all electrical contacts are located opposite to the photoactive surface. Solar cell types of this nature include the 'metal wrap through' (MWT), 'emitter wrap through' (EWT), 'metal wrap around' (MWA) and 'back junction' (BJ) types. Below, solar cells of these types will be referred to as back-contacted solar cells.

In back-contacted solar cells, the contact-connections are realized on the rear surface of the solar cell. This can be accomplished with a patterned electrically conductive foil that is arranged adjacent to the rear surface for contacting with the rear- side contact-connections of the solar cell. The pattern of the conductive foil allows formation of electrical connections in series between two neighboring solar cells, i.e., negative contacts of one solar cell are connected to positive contacts of a next solar cell, and so on. The distribution of contact-connections on the rear side of a back-contacted solar cell can become complex for various reasons: the lateral mean free path of charge carriers within the solar cell is limited as a result of electrical resistance losses inside the solar cell. This leads to a maximum distance between the vias in the solar cell and consequently a minimally required number of vias per unit area. Moreover, in large size solar cell modules, with length and width larger than the size of a single solar cell, the pattern of the conductive foil must allow a planar 90° rotation of current flow to facilitate a simple arrangement of identically-placed solar cells in multiple rows and yet establish their series interconnections. Such a corner design causes additional resistive losses when compared to sections where cells are interconnected in a straight line because these corner sections are designed to lead the current flow in 90° rotations.

Such a pattern of the conductive foil is typically asymmetric. An example of a conductive foil pattern is described in "Single-step laminated Full-size PV modules made with back-contacted mc-Si cells and conductive adhesives" by P.C. de Jong, D.W.K. Eikelboom, R.Kinderman, A.C.Tip, J.H.Bultman, M.H.H.Meuwissen, and M. A.C.J, van den Nieuwenhof, 19th European PV Solar Energy Conference

(EPVSEC), Paris 2004.

A further disadvantage can be that typically the prior art relies on (chemical) milling of a solid metal foil to establish the single-layer conductive foil pattern. This is known to be a slow process and becomes even more problematic when the metal layer thickness is increased to reduce the resistive losses in the corner sections where 90° rotations of current flow is established.

Summary of the invention

It is an objective of the invention to overcome or reduce one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

The objective is achieved by a solar cell module for back-contacted solar cells, comprising a layer a number of back-contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means,

the planar contacting means being arranged for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence; wherein the planar contacting means is a layered connection structure comprising a first stratum and a second stratum;

a first pair of adjacent solar cells is connected in series along a first conductive path in the first stratum and one solar cell of the first pair is connected in series to a next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence along a second conductive path in the second stratum,

wherein the first stratum is arranged between the layer of the solar cells and the second stratum.

According to the present invention, the layered connection structure contains two electrically conductive layers or foils in the first and second stratum respectively, that are on top of each other in an arrangement that allows for easy contacting with the rear- side contact-connections of the solar cell. One conductive layer in one stratum allows formation of electrical connections towards the negative contacts of the solar cell while the other conductive layer in the other stratum is connected to the positive contacts of the same solar cell. The design of each layer then becomes a simple rectangle for which resistive losses are set by the thickness of the metal layer only, not by its design.

Advantageously, the patterning of the conductive layers or foils becomes much simpler. Only the upper conductive layer requires to be perforated to allow for interconnections between the contact connections of the solar cell and the lower conductive layer. The required metal perforations can be mass-produced at much higher speed when compared with (chemical) milling, for instance with laser cutting or punching tools.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the first conductive path is defined by a first conductive sheet in the first stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than the area occupied by the first pair of solar cells.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the second conductive path is defined by a first conductive sheet in the second stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than the area occupied by the one solar cell of the first pair and the next adjacent solar cell.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the first conductive sheet is arranged for contacting back contacts of a first polarity of one solar cell of the first pair to back contacts of an opposite second polarity on the other solar cell of the first pair,

the first conductive sheet comprises a pattern of openings, wherein the pattern of openings corresponds to a pattern of the back contacts of the second polarity of the one solar cell of the first pair and a pattern of the back contacts of the first polarity of the other solar cell of the first pair, and

the pattern of openings is arranged for exposing the corresponding back contacts to the second conductive sheet.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the first stratum is separated from the second stratum by an electrical isolation layer.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the electrical isolation layer comprises a pattern of openings that corresponds to the pattern of openings in the first conductive sheet.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence is connected in series to a further solar cell adjacent to said next adjacent solar cell along a second conductive path in the first stratum, wherein the second conductive path in the first stratum is defined by a second conductive sheet in the first stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than the area occupied by the pair of the next adjacent solar cell and the further solar cell.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the second conductive sheet in the first stratum is isolated from the first conductive sheet in the first stratum by an isolation gap.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein one further solar cell in the ordered sequence is connected in series to another further solar cell adjacent to said one further solar cell along a second conductive path in the second stratum, wherein the second conductive path in the second stratum is defined by a second conductive sheet in the second stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than of the area occupied by the pair of the one further solar cell and the adjacent other further solar cell.

According to an aspect, the invention relates to a solar cell module as described above, wherein the second conductive sheet in the second stratum is isolated from the first conductive sheet in the second stratum by an isolation gap.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising:

- Providing a layer comprising a number of back-contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means, - Arranging the planar contacting means for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence; wherein the planar contacting means is a layered connection structure comprising a first stratum and a second stratum;

- Connecting a first pair of adjacent solar cells in series along a first conductive path in the first stratum and connecting one solar cell of the first pair in series to a next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence along a second conductive path in the second stratum, wherein the first stratum is arranged between the layer of the solar cells and the second stratum.

Brief description of drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a few drawings in which illustrative embodiments thereof are shown. They are intended exclusively for illustrative purposes and not to restrict the inventive concept, which is defined by the claims.

Figure 1 shows a schematic circuit of a plurality of solar cells connected in series; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a solar cell module according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows a top view of the solar cell module of Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a level- split top view of the solar cell module of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a level-split top view of a solar cell module according to an

embodiment of the invention.

Description of embodiments

Figure 1 shows a schematic circuit of a plurality of solar cells connected in series. The plurality of solar cells is arranged in a plane L0. The plurality of solar cells is depicted by an array of solar cells SI, S2, S3, S4 placed next to each other. Each of the solar cells has a front side with a photoactive surface directed upwards (i.e., during use, towards a radiation source RS such as the sun).

Schematically, the series interconnections between the solar cells are shown. Each solar cell has a first back-contact connection area of a first polarity (e.g., '+') and a second back-contact connection area of opposite second polarity (e.g., '-').

The series interconnection between the second back contact connection area of the first solar cell SI is formed over a conductive path to the first contact connection area of the second solar cell S2. Likewise, the second contact connection area of the second solar cell S2 is connected over a second conductive path to the first contact connection area of the second solar cell S3, and so on.

For back-contacted solar cells as known from the prior art, the first and second contact connection areas of each solar cell are located at the rear side of the solar cells and are connected to a conductive foil whereon the solar cells are placed. The conductive foil is patterned into a pattern of mutually isolated conductive areas to provide the appropriate interconnections between the contact connection areas of the respective cells.

According to the present invention, the conductive paths for the series connection between the solar cells is distributed over a layered connection structure for the series connection between solar cells which comprises a first stratum LI, an electrical isolation layer D, and a second stratum L2.

In the layered connection structure SC, the first stratum LI is arranged between the layer L0 of the solar cells and the second stratum L2.

To avoid short-circuits between the first and second stratum LI and L2, the electrical isolation layer D is provided in between LI and L2.

The first and second stratum each comprise a respective conductive sheet HI, H2. According to the present invention, a first pair of adjacent solar cells, i.e. the first solar cell SI and second solar cell S2, is connected in series along a first conductive path Tl in the first stratum LI. Contacts of the second polarity of the first solar cell SI are connected to contacts of the first polarity of the second solar cell S2.

The first conductive path Tl extends over the first conductive sheet HI in the first stratum LI. The first conductive sheet HI is typically a conductive layer with a footprint (i.e., areal size) that is equal to or smaller than the footprint of the first and second solar cells combined.

One solar cell of the first pair, i.e., the second solar cell S2 is connected in series to a next adjacent solar cell, i.e. the third solar cell S3, in the ordered sequence along a second conductive path T2 in the second stratum L2. The second conductive path T2 extends over the second conductive sheet H2 in the second stratum L2 and is typically a conductive layer with an areal footprint that is equal to or smaller than the footprint of the first and second solar cells combined. Contacts of the second polarity of the second solar cell S2 are connected to contacts of the first polarity of the third solar cell S3. Next, the third solar cell S3 is connected in series to a further adjacent solar cell, i.e. the fourth solar cell S4, in the ordered sequence along a third conductive path T3 in the second stratum L 1.

The third conductive path T3 extends over a third conductive sheet H3 in the first stratum LI and is typically a conductive layer with an areal footprint that is equal to or smaller than the footprint of the first and second solar cells combined. To avoid short- circuits between the first and fourth conductive sheets HI, H4 in the same first stratum, an insulating gap is provided in between HI and H4.

Thus, the first stratum comprises a plurality of conductive sheets, spaced apart from each other within the first stratum by intermediate insulating gaps. Each conductive sheet is arranged for connecting a first and second adjacent solar cell in series.

Similarly, the second stratum comprises a plurality of conductive sheets, spaced apart from each other within the second stratum by intermediate insulating gaps. Each conductive sheet is arranged for connecting the second and a third solar cell in series, wherein the third solar cell is arranged adjacent to the second solar cell.

The conductive sheets in the second stratum are shifted relative to the position of the conductive sheets in the first stratum over a distance equal to the lateral size of a solar cell so as to allow concatenation of the first, second and third solar cell in a series connection.

In an embodiment, the footprint (i.e. the areal size) of the layer shaped conductive sheets corresponds to, or is smaller than, the area of the two solar cells being connected by the conductive sheet.

In a further embodiment, a conductive sheet in the first stratum is provided with an openings pattern which corresponds to a pattern of the contact area(s) for the respective polarity of each of the solar cells that is not connected by the conductive sheet in the first stratum. The openings pattern are arranged for a connection between such a contact area of each solar cell to a respective conductive sheet in the second stratum Moreover, in this embodiment, the electrical isolation layer D between the first and second strata is provided with an openings pattern that corresponds with the openings pattern in the conductive sheet(s) in the first stratum.

Advantageously, the size of openings in the electrical isolation layer will be identical to the size of the openings in the conductive sheet(s) in the first stratum, to provide an isolation between a connection that runs between the contact area of the solar cell and the conductive sheet in the second stratum (through the openings pattem of the conductive sheet in the first stratum), and the conductive sheet in the first stratum.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section of a solar cell module according to an embodiment of the invention.

In Figure 2, entities with the same reference number as shown in the preceding figure refer to corresponding entities. Such entities are either substantially identical or equivalent to the corresponding entities in the preceding figures and will not be described here in detail.

The solar cell module 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of solar cells SI ... S5, a glass plate G, a upper joining layer F, a layered connection structure SC, and lower rear-side layer R.

The lower rear-side layer R of the solar cell module may be formed by a supporting rear-side coversheet or glass plate SP.

The lower rear-side layer R may comprise a plastic layer for fixing the layered connection structure SC .

On top of the lower rear-side layer R a layered connection structure SC is located.

The layered connection structure SC comprises an upper first stratum LI, a lower second stratum L2 and an electrical isolation layer D. The insulating layer D is arranged in between the first LI and second stratum L2.

The first stratum LI comprises a plurality of conductive sheets CI, C3, C6, spaced apart from each other within the first stratum by intermediate insulating gaps Wl .

The second stratum L2 comprises a plurality of conductive sheets C2, C4, C5, spaced apart from each other within the second stratum by intermediate insulating gaps W2.

On top of the layered connection structure SC a plurality of solar cells SI, S2, S3,

S5 are arranged.

The solar cells of the back-contact type are arranged adjacent to each other over the layered connection structure as will be described below in more detail. The solar cells are spaced apart by intermediate gaps W3. The front side of the solar cells has a photoactive surface (not shown in detail) directed upwards.

On top of the solar cells, the upper joining layer F is arranged for covering the plurality of the solar cells. The upper joining layer is covered by the glass plate G. The upper joining layer F comprises an optical transparent joining layer for fixing the solar cells to the glass plate G above the solar cells and to the layered connection structure SC below the solar cells. The upper joining layer thus has a first portion between the solar cells and the glass plate and a second portion between the solar cells and the layered connection structure SC.

The back-contacted solar cells comprise a contacting structure on the rear side arranged for electrical connections. As known in the art, such contacting structure comprises a contact pattern for the first polarity and a further contact pattern for the opposite second polarity.

Schematically, the contact area pattern for the charge carriers generated on the photoactive surface (referred to as first polarity) is depicted by a via with back contact area VI, V2, V3, V5 in the respective solar cell SI, S2, S3, S5. The contact area for the opposite second polarity is schematically indicated by the remainder of the rear side surface. It will be appreciated that in reality '+' and '-' contact connection areas on back- contacted solar cells can have relatively complex layouts.

The first solar cell SI has the first polarity of the photoactive surface connected through the via VI to the first conductive sheet CI in the first stratum LI, while the opposite second polarity is connected by a contact Ul to a second conductive sheet C2 in the second stratum L2.

The first conductive sheet CI has a further connection to the contact area of second polarity of the second solar cell S2, which solar cell S2 is adjacent to the first solar cell SI . In this manner the series connection between the first and second solar cells SI, S2 is established.

The next series connection, between the second solar cell S2 and a third solar cell S3 (adjacent to the second solar cell) is formed along a conductive path that runs from the via with back contact area V2 (first polarity) of the second solar cell S2 through a second contact U2 to a further conductive sheet C4 in the second stratum L2 and through a third contact U3 from the further conductive sheet C4 to the contact area B3 of the second polarity of the third solar cell S3.

Since each conductive sheet is arranged for series connection of two adjacent solar cells, the position of conductive sheets in the second stratum L2 is shifted laterally over a distance equal to a lateral size of one solar cells, in comparison to the position of the conductive sheets in the first stratum LI . In between the conductive sheet in the first stratum LI and the back contact connection areas on the solar cell arranged on the conductive sheets the second portion of the upper joining layer is arranged to avoid undesired short-circuits between the back contact area of one polarity with the conductive sheet that is connected to the opposite polarity.

Note that for each solar cell the second portion of the upper joining layer F has openings located at the positions for contact connections of the solar cell to the first and second conductive sheets. The via VI runs through an associated opening in the second portion of the upper joining layer F between the solar cells and the conductive sheet(s) in the first stratum, and the contact Ul runs through a further associated opening in the second portion.

The conductive sheet in the first stratum LI under two adjacent solar cells that are connected in series, is arranged with an pattern of openings which correspond to a pattern of the contact area(s) for the respective polarity of each of the solar cells that is not connected by the conductive sheet in the first stratum. The pattern of openings is arranged for a connection between such a contact area of each solar cell, not connected in the first stratum, to a respective conductive sheet in the second stratum.

Figure 3 shows an exploded top view of the solar cell module of figure 2. In this figure the solar cells, the conductive sheets in the first stratum, the electrical isolation layer D and the conductive sheets in the second stratum are shown in a top view while displaced in a vertical direction Y.

In a top row, the solar cells SI, S2, S3, S5 are shown adjacent to each other. On each solar cell the back contact connection areas of the first polarity (associated with charge carriers from the photoactive surface) are shown schematically as indicated by circles PI . The back contact connection areas of the second opposite polarity are indicated as P2.

In a middle row, the conductive sheets C6, CI, C3 in the first stratum are shown. The horizontal position of the sheets coincides with the position of the solar cells in the solar cell module assembly as shown in figure 2.

In a bottom row, the conductive sheets C2, C4 in the second stratum are shown. The horizontal position of the sheets coincides with the position of the solar cells in the solar cell module assembly as shown in figure 2. On the conductive sheets in the first stratum, patterns of openings Ql, Q2 are indicated.

To create a series connection between the first polarity of the first solar cell S 1 with the second polarity of the second solar cell over the first conductive sheet CI in the first stratum, the contacts PI are connected to the surface of the first conductive sheet and the conductive sheet is further connected to the contact area of the second polarity of the second solar cell.

In the first conductive sheet at the location of the first solar cell, a first pattern of openings Ql is arranged to allow connection of the first solar cell's contact area of the second polarity to the conductive sheet C2 in the second stratum. Schematically this first pattern of openings Ql is indicated by openings which are displaced relative to the positions of the contact area(s) of the first polarity. The displacement is illustrated by the dashed vertical lines over the first solar cell SI and the first conductive sheet CI.

For the second solar cell S2, a second pattern of openings is arranged in the first conductive sheet at the location of the second solar cell to allow connection of the second solar cell's contact area of the first polarity to the conductive sheet C4 in the second stratum. Here the openings in the first conductive sheets must coincide with the location of the back contact connection areas of the first polarity of the second solar cell S2. Again this is illustrated by the dashed vertical lines over the second solar cell S2 and the first conductive sheet C 1.

The displacement of the first pattern of openings shown in this exemplary embodiment is substantially horizontal but may be in a different direction. Also, the pattern of openings may differ from the actual back contact area pattern, under the condition that the back contacted area of the second polarity can be electrically connected to the conductive sheets in the second stratum in a proper manner.

It will be appreciated that the electrical isolating layer D comprises a pattern of openings which corresponds to the pattern of openings in the conductive sheets in the first stratum LI .

Figure 4 shows an exploded top view of a solar cell module according to an embodiment of the invention.

In figure 4, the solar cells, the conductive sheets in the first stratum and the conductive sheets in the second stratum are shown in a top view while displaced in a vertical direction. Due to the layered connection structure SC the arrangement of the solar cells is not necessarily limited to a one dimensional arrangement extending in one direction. According to an embodiment, a solar cell module is arranged with solar cells in a two dimensional layout. This can be achieved by arranging the longitudinal direction of a conductive sheet in the first stratum under a 90° angle relative to the longitudinal direction of an underlying conductive sheet in the second stratum.

In a top level, four solar cells S11, S12, S13, S14 shown that are connected in series with each other. The patterns of the first polarity PI and second polarity P2 are indicated.

In a middle level, first and second conductive sheets Cl l, C12 of the first stratum are shown.

In a lower level, the second stratum is shown by a conductive sheet C13 and first and second connecting pads CI 4, C15.

The first conductive sheet Cl l is arranged for connecting the first polarity of the first solar cell SI 1 to the second opposite polarity of the second solar cell SI 2.

The first conductive sheet Cl l is arranged with first and second patterns of openings for connecting the polarity contacts that are not connected in the first stratum, to the underlying conductive sheet C13 and first contacting pad CI 4, respectively, in the second stratum.

Likewise, the third and fourth solar cells are connected by second conductive sheet C12 as described above in detail before. The second conductive sheet C12 is arranged for connecting the first polarity of the third solar cell S13 to the second opposite polarity of the fourth solar cell SI 4.

The second conductive sheet C12 is arranged with first and second patterns of openings for connecting the polarity contacts that are not connected in the first stratum, to the underlying conductive sheet C13 and second contacting pad CI 5, respectively, in the second stratum.

The conductive sheet C13 in the second stratum is arranged for connecting the first polarity of the second solar cell S12 to the second opposite polarity of the third solar cell S13.

The first contacting pad C14 has a terminal CI 4b which extends beyond the surface of the first solar cell SI 1, and which is arranged for connecting to an external connection (not shown). The second contacting pad C15 has a terminal CI 5b which extends beyond the surface of the fourth solar cell SI 4, and which is arranged for connecting to a second external connection (not shown).

The electrical isolating layer D comprises a pattern of openings which corresponds to the pattern of openings in the conductive sheets in the first stratum LI .

Fig 5 shows a top view of a solar cell module with solar cells arranged in a two- dimensional layout as described with reference to figure 4.

For reason of clarity, the outlines of the conductive sheets and solar cells are drawn at different sizes to indicate their respective position and orientation.

In an embodiment, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a solar cell module. Such a method comprises:

Providing a layer comprising a number of back-contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means,

arranging the planar contacting means for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence; wherein the planar contacting means is a layered connection structure comprising a first stratum and a second stratum;

connecting a first pair of adjacent solar cells in series along a first conductive path in the first stratum and connecting one solar cell of the first pair in series to a next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence along a second conductive path in the second stratum,

Above, the layered connection structure SC has been described for a solar cell module in which solar cells are connected in series. The person skilled in the art will appreciate that the layered connection structure may also be applied for solar cells connected in parallel.

Other alternatives and equivalent embodiments of the present invention are conceivable within the idea of the invention, as will be clear to the person skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

A a solar cell module for back-contacted solar cells, comprising a layer a number of back-contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means,

the planar contacting means being arranged for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence;

wherein the planar contacting means is a layered connection structure comprising a first stratum and a second stratum;

The solar cell module according claim 1, wherein the first conductive path is defined by a first conductive sheet in the first stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than the area occupied by the first pair of solar cells.

The solar cell module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second conductive path is defined by a first conductive sheet in the second stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than the area occupied by the one solar cell of the first pair and the next adjacent solar cell.

The solar cell module according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first conductive sheet is arranged for contacting back contacts of a first polarity of one solar cell of the first pair to back contacts of an opposite second polarity on the other solar cell of the first pair,

The solar cell module according to any one of claims 1 - 4, wherein the first stratum is separated from the second stratum by an electrical isolation layer.

The solar cell module according to claim 5 as far as dependent on claim 4, wherein the electrical isolation layer comprises a pattern of openings that corresponds to the pattern of openings in the first conductive sheet.

The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the next adjacent solar cell in the ordered sequence is connected in series to a further solar cell adjacent to said next adjacent solar cell along a second conductive path in the first stratum, wherein the second conductive path in the first stratum is defined by a second conductive sheet in the first stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than the area occupied by the pair of the next adjacent solar cell and the further solar cell.

The solar cell module according to claim 7, wherein the second conductive sheet in the first stratum is isolated from the first conductive sheet in the first stratum by an isolation gap.

The solar cell module according to claim 1, wherein the further solar cell in the ordered sequence is connected in series to another further solar cell adjacent to said one further solar cell along a second conductive path in the second stratum, wherein the second conductive path in the second stratum is defined by a second conductive sheet in the second stratum which has an areal size equal to or smaller than of the area occupied by the pair of the one further solar cell and the adjacent other further solar cell. The solar cell module according to claim 9, wherein the second conductive sheet in the second stratum is isolated from the first conductive sheet in the second stratum by an isolation gap.

A method for manufacturing a solar cell module, comprising:

- providing a layer comprising a number of back-contacted solar cells, placed in an ordered sequence, and a planar contacting means,

- arranging the planar contacting means for providing a series connection between respective back contacts of each pair of adjacent solar cells in the ordered sequence;