Challenges and Advantages for Cut Solar Cells for Shingling and Half-Cell Modules

This work discusses challenges and advantages of cut solar cells, as used for shingling and half-cell photovoltaic modules. Cut cells have generally lower current output and allow reduced ohmic losses at the module level. Experimental results are collected, combining industrial blue wafers with different cell layouts, which are then implemented into a combined simulation method up to module level. These simulations accurately compare host cell and cut cell performance. Flexible methods like GridTouch® for current-voltage (I-V) measurements can provide quick results but can also lead to overestimation of host cell performance, resulting in large cell-to-module (CTM) losses, if not correctly interpreted. In addition, unpassivated edges introduce new losses affecting fill factor and open-circuit voltage. The passivated edge technology (PET) yields I-V results close to an ideal edge without recombination. Module performances are compared, highlighting the highest efficiency in a shingled module with PET.