• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2022

Bifacial photovoltaic (PV) technology has received considerable attention in recent years due to the potential to achieve a higher annual energy yield compared to its monofacial PV systems. In this study, we fabricated the bifacial c-Si PV module with a shingled design using the conventional patterned bifacial solar cells. The shingled design PV module has recently attracted attention as a high-power module. Compared to the conventional module, it can have a much more active area due to the busbar-free structure. We employed the transparent backsheet for a light reception at the rear side of the PV module. Finally, we achieved a conversion power of 453.9 W for a 1300 mm × 2000 mm area. Moreover, we perform reliability tests to verify the durability of our Shingled Design Bifacial c-Si Photovoltaic module.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.107-110
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• 2022

Lightweight and flexible photovoltaic (PV) modules are attractive for building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications because of their easy construction and applicability. In this study, we fabricated lightweight and flexible c-Si PV modules using ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) front cover and shingled design string cells. The ETFE front cover instead of glass made the PV modules lighter in weight, and the shingled design string cells increased the flexibility. Finally, we fabricated a PV module with a conversion power of 240.08 W at an area of 1.25 m² and weighed only 2 kg/m². Moreover, to check the PV module's flexibility, we conducted a bending test. The difference of conversion power between the modules before and after bending shown was only 1.7 W, which showed a power reduction rate of about 0.7%.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.75-78
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• 2023

Recently, the installation of photovoltaic modules in urban areas has been increasing. In particular, the demand for solar modules installed in a limited space is increasing. However, since the crystalline silicon solar module's size is proportional to the solar cell's size, it is difficult to manufacture a module that can be installed in a limited area. In this study, we fabricated a solar module with a shingled design that can control horizontal and vertical width using a bi-directional laser scribing method. We fabricated a string cell with a width of 1/5 compared to the existing shingled design string cells using a bi-directional laser scribing method, and we fabricated a solar module by connecting three strings in parallel. Finally, we achieved a conversion power of 5.521 W at a 103 mm × 320 mm area.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.73-76
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• 2022

BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) supplemented the minimum area problem required when installing existing solar modules. However, in order to apply it to buildings, research was needed to increase the aesthetics of solar modules and use them as a design. Accordingly, modules with color applied to the entire surface of the photovoltaic module were being developed, but there was a disadvantage of low power. Therefore, by dividing and bonding the cell strips, it was possible to improve the output power by applying a shingled technology in which other divided cells overlap in a busbar region where light couldn't be received. Shingled technology was advantageous for color modules because the front busbar part that degrades aesthetics was removed. In this research, four color shingled solar modules (Green, Yellow, Blue, Gray) were manufactured and power degradation was analyzed by measuring transmittance and reflectance. Gray color had 80.83% transmittance, which was 31.31% higher than Yellow, resulting in a power difference of 4.45 W.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.54-57
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• 2023

Recently, requirements for improving the convenience of constructing BIPV (Building Integrated Photo Voltaic) modules had increased. To solve this problem, we fabricated shingled PV modules integrated with bent steel plates for building integrated photovoltaics. These PV modules could be constructed directly on the roof without the installation structure. We found optimal lamination conditions with supporting structures to fabricate a module on a bent steel plate. Moreover, we applied a shingled design to PV modules integrated with bent steel plates to achieve a high electrical output power. The shingled module with bent steel plates shows 142.80 W of solar-to-power conversion in 0.785 m² area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.267-271
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• 2019

A shingled PV module is manufactured by dividing and bonding. In this method, the solar cell is divided by lasers and bonded using electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs). Consequently, the manufacturing cost increases because a process step is added. Therefore, we aim to reduce the production cost by reducing the amount of Ag paste used in the solar cell front. Various electrode structures were designed and simulated. The number of fingers was optimized by designing thinner fingers, and the number of fingers with the maximum power conversion efficiency was confirmed. The simulation confirmed the maximum efficiency in the 4-divided electrode pattern. The amount of Ag paste used for each electrode pattern was calculated and analyzed. The number of fingers was optimized by decreasing the width of the finger; this will not only reduce the amount of Ag paste required but also the increase the efficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2021

In this study, we fabricated light-weight solar module for various applications such as building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), vehicles, trains, etc. Ethylene tetra fluoro ethylene (ETFE) film was applied as a material to replace the cover glass, which occupies more than 65% of the weight of the PV module. Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP) was applied to the ones with a low durability by replacing the cover glass to ETFE. Moreover, to achieve a high solar power conversion in this study, we applied a shingled design to weight reduced solar modules. The shingled module with GRP shows 183.7 W of solar-to-power conversion, and the output reduction rate after weight load test was 1.14%.