Mechanical Stability of Solar Cells within Solar Panels

The PV market is still expanding causing the situation in PV industry becoming more and more complex. Different cell types emerge on the market provided by a growing number of cell suppliers. Due to silicon shortage in the past solar cells were getting significantly thinner within the past few years. All these parameters have a potential impact on the mechanical stability of a solar panel. This paper focuses on the dependency of the mechanical stability of solar cells within a solar panel on different factors as cell thickness, cell interconnection technology and cell supplier. Test procedures concerning the mechanical stability of solar panels were carried out according to industry standards and beyond. For detailed evaluation of the panels suitable analysis methods as IV curves and electroluminescence images were utilized. Beside other observations discussed in this paper it has been found that the mechanical stability of solar cells within a solar panel is significantly reduced with decreasing cell thickness. Referring to this result the rapid thickness reduction on wafer level going on in PV industry needs to be investigated closely. Solar cell processes and the module manufacturing need to be adapted.