Cost-optimized metallization layout for metal wrap through (MWT) solar cells and modules

The cost-effective production of highly efficient solar cells and modules is one of the major goals of current research activities. Especially the ongoing crisis that is affecting a major part of the solar industry makes new methods and instruments for further reductions in cost of ownership (e/Wp) of solar cells and modules essential. Our approach is the optimization of the metallization layout of passivated Czochralski-Si metal wrap through (MWT) solar cells aiming at minimum module cost of ownership. The front finger width, the number of contact rows and the number of solder pads per contact row are varied methodically using analytical modeling. The results of the simulation provide the basis for a bottom-up cost of ownership calculation of MWT solar cells and modules. MWTmetallization layouts with more than four contact rows are identified as most cost-effective. A comparison between MWT and conventional H-pattern technology reveals a cost advantage of over 2 % relative for the MWT approach on module level.