Smart Wire Connection Technology

Abstract

For more than five decades, photovoltaic technology has seen continuous improvements, as costs have been consistently lowered, processes have been simplified and temperatures lowered. While significant improvements have been made at the cell level, limitations remain at the module level or at the interface between the cell and the module, which is known as the cell metallization-interconnection. Meyer Burger develops the Smart Wire Connection Technology (SWCT) required to close this gap and get the highest possible benefit out of highefficiency solar cell performance. SWCT technology implies a change of paradigm. It requires the combination of lamination and interconnection into a single lamination step. Moreover, the module's silver paste consumption can be significantly reduced (< 2.4g/60 cells module) and even eliminated when Cu plating is used. There are also fewer electrical and optical losses thanks to the shorter length of the fingers and better light in-coupling than standard ribbon technologies.