Fully Black and Reliable PV Modules with a Cost-Effective Inkjet Coating of Cell Strings

The energy transition requires a massive expansion of photovoltaics (PV) on all available areas in the next few years. For integrative photovoltaic applications (XIPV), an aesthetically appealing PV module design for acceptance and a high photoconversion efficiency are desirable. To achieve this goal using common PERC solar cells with five-busbar interconnection, we present an inkjet process that complies with the speed of industrial stringers to blacken the cell connectors after soldering, resulting in an unaffected homogeneous black impression. The optical impression of our manufactured PV modules remains intact after extended (400 temperature cycles (TC), 120 kWh/m2 ultraviolet radiation (UV), 2000 h damp heat (DH) exposure) and combined (UV-DH, UV-DH+TC) climate chamber tests following IEC standards. The power loss due to printing on cell connectors is 1.4 % compared to PV modules without blackened cell connectors.