One promising PV module technology in terms of reducing expensive consumables while keeping the performance on a high level is the N.I.C.E.(TM) (New Industrial Solar Cell Encapsulation) module technology from Apollon Solar that is based on mechanical pressing contacts. In this paper, we investigate the question if the N.I.C.E.(TM) module technology is well suited for temperature-sensitive silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. We present challenges encountered during the ramp-up of our lab-scale manufacturing from 1x1 to 3x4 modules. In the experimental study, we used SHJ cells with different front metal pastes and could demonstrate the high performance of N.I.C.E.(TM) technology irrespective of the type of paste. Record aperture area module efficiencies of 20.6% are achieved and the LIV parameters are modeled via SunSolve (TM) simulations. We derive from our investigations that this eco-friendly, recyclable technology is well competitive to standard laminate-based module technology.

In difference to laminated state-of-the-art PV modules, major components of Apollon Solar's proprietary NICE (`New Industrial Cell Encapsulation') modules are not physically attached to each other due to the absence of soldering and lamination. This allows for an efficient and low-cost disassembly of end of life NICE modules into their original components, such as glasses, copper connectors, solar cells. The fact that these components can be recovered as entire pieces opens up a more sustainable and high value recycling and reuse potential, in terms of waste management towards a circular economy. This work reports results from feasibility studies on the disassembly of NICE modules and recycling/reuse of their components, carried out in the frame of the European H2020FOF-13-2015 `ECOSOLAR' project.

Our simulation work aims at analyzing optical loss mechanisms for two types of glass-glass modules: laminated modules, using for example EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) as encapsulant, and modules without encapsulant that are filled with neutral gas. The simulation results give arguments in favor of the use of gas as encapsulant in glass-glass PV modules instead EVA. Indeed, with an anti-reflection coating (ARC) on both sides of the front glass of the module and an appropriate ARC on the cell, the collected current of a cell encapsulated with gas is almost equal than the one obtained for a standard EVA module with a single side ARC on the glass and an appropriate ARC on the cell under an AM1.5G spectrum. Because of the different spectral behavior of the two materials, a careful filtering of lamps used in solar simulators is mandatory due to the high-infrared content, in order to compare gas filled modules to EVA laminated ones. Low UV content in the incident spectrum underestimates the optical losses in the EVA module and high-infrared content overestimates the optical losses in the gas filled module. This analysis shows that the refractive index of SiN of industrial solar cells and the current spectral distribution of solar simulators defined according to the norm IEC 60904-9 could penalize gas filled modules in comparison to EVA laminated ones. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

This paper summarizes results from bifacial glass/glass NICE modules, using n-type BiSoN solar cells with efficiencies in the 20.0% range. A first series of industrial size (Sixty 156x156mm(2)) modules, fabricated under non-ideal conditions, exhibit a typical power of 250Wp under front illumination at STC conditions. Two modules have been installed and monitored at the ISC-Konstanz test site in El Gouna Egypt (27 degrees N latitude). Monitoring data from the outdoor performance of these modules between the beginning of 2014 and August 2014 are analysed and compared to the data of a standard mono-facial reference module with an STC power of 255W. The bifacial modules show an average gain in generated power of 14.3% compared to the standard mono-facial reference module. During this monitoring period instantaneous effective peak powers of 313W were observed for the bifacial modules due to reflection from the ground in addition to the front illumination of the modules. Since bifacial modules produce high currents under bifacial operation, the current rating of standard junction boxes can become a critical factor. In this paper a newly developed junction box with a maximum current of 20A and a rated current of 17A is introduced. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.