Series Resistance Modelling of Industrial Screen-Printed Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells and Modules Including the Effect of Spot Soldering

The series resistance in an industrial screen-printed monocrystalline silicon PV module is known to be one of the key factors which need to be considered in order to increase the module efficiency. A model has been built for the series resistance of the module which is based on sub-models for the screen-printed solar cell and the solder interconnects of the structure. The theoretical results of the model have been verified by diode curve fitting of IV measurements, both for the cell and the module. The model can be used to analyse the distribution of the series resistance related to the different parts of the cell, to optimise the front metal grid structure for a specific number of solder spots on the busbar of each cell and the thickness of the interconnection ribbons