REC SOLAR PTE. LTD.

A spacer ( 100 ) for spacing two adjacent stacked solar modules ( 101 a, 101 b ), the spacer ( 100 ) comprising: a body ( 108 ) having spaced opposed first and second edges ( 110, 109 ), the body ( 108 ) comprising an upper contact surface ( 111 ) for contact with an upper solar module ( 101 a ), and a lower contact surface ( 112 ) for contact with a lower solar module ( 101 b ); a first upper protrusion ( 114 ) arranged to bear against a frame ( 102 ) of the upper solar module ( 101 a ), the first upper protrusion ( 114 ) protruding upwardly from or proximate to the first edge ( 110 ) of the body ( 108 ) to a free end of the first upper protrusion ( 114 ); and a first lower protrusion ( 118 ) arranged to bear against a frame ( 102 ) of the lower solar module ( 101 b ), the first lower protrusion ( 118 ) protruding downwardly from or proximate to the first edge ( 110 ) of the body to a free end of the first lower protrusion ( 118 ), the first lower protrusion ( 118 ) offset from the first upper protrusion ( 114 ) in a direction along the first edge ( 110 ).

A frame member for a bifacial solar module. The frame member comprises a retaining portion (or e.g. a holder) configured to retain (or e.g. hold) a longitudinally extending edge of a solar module, such that the solar module, when retained (or e.g. held) by the retaining portion, extends laterally inwardly from the retaining portion along a reference plane. The frame member also includes a reflector surface disposed rearwardly and laterally inwardly of the retaining portion. The reflector surface slopes in a direction away from the reference plane such that light passing through the reference plane and onto the reflector surface is reflected by the reflector surface in a forward and laterally inward direction.

A solar cell assembly is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series and a second solar cell series connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of solar cells connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a bypass diode coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.

A slim solar module is proposed. It comprises a solar laminate comprising plural solar cells interposed between front and rear cover sheets, a frame enclosing the solar laminate and at least one reinforcement strut arranged at a rear surface of the solar laminate. A ratio between a frame surface and a frame thickness shall be between 45000 and 70000. For example, the frame may have a thickness of less than 35 mm. Specifically, the frame may have a length of 1665 mm, a width of 991 mm and a thickness of 30 mm. Due to the reduced thickness, the solar module has a reduced volume being beneficial during transport to a destination location. However, the thickness has been optimized to, with the reinforcement struts, still providing for sufficient mechanical stability for the solar module.

A spacer ( 100 ) for spacing two adjacent stacked solar modules ( 101 a , 101 b ), the spacer ( 100 ) comprising: a body ( 108 ) having spaced opposed first and second edges ( 110, 109 ), the body ( 108 ) comprising an upper contact surface ( 111 ) for contact with an upper solar module ( 101 a ), and a lower contact surface ( 112 ) for contact with a lower solar module ( 101 b ); a first upper protrusion ( 114 ) arranged to bear against a frame ( 102 ) of the upper solar module ( 101 a ), the first upper protrusion ( 114 ) protruding upwardly from or proximate to the first edge ( 110 ) of the body ( 108 ) to a free end of the first upper protrusion ( 114 ); and a first lower protrusion ( 118 ) arranged to bear against a frame ( 102 ) of the lower solar module ( 101 b ), the first lower protrusion ( 118 ) protruding downwardly from or proximate to the first edge ( 110 ) of the body to a free end of the first lower protrusion ( 118 ), the first lower protrusion ( 118 ) offset from the first upper protrusion ( 114 ) in a direction along the first edge ( 110 ).

A solar cell assembly is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series and a second solar cell series connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of solar cells connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a bypass diode coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.

A frame member for a bifacial solar module. The frame member comprises a retaining portion (or e.g. a holder) configured to retain (or e.g. hold) a longitudinally extending edge of a solar module, such that the solar module, when retained (or e.g. held) by the retaining portion, extends laterally inwardly from the retaining portion along a reference plane. The frame member also includes a reflector surface disposed rearwardly and laterally inwardly of the retaining portion. The reflector surface slopes in a direction away from the reference plane such that light passing through the reference plane and onto the reflector surface is reflected by the reflector surface in a forward and laterally inward direction.

A slim solar module is proposed. It comprises a solar laminate comprising plural solar cells interposed between front and rear cover sheets, a frame enclosing the solar laminate and at least one reinforcement strut arranged at a rear surface of the solar laminate. A ratio between a frame surface and a frame thickness shall be between 45000 and 70000. For example, the frame may have a thickness of less than 35 mm. Specifically, the frame may have a length of 1665 mm, a width of 991 mm and a thickness of 30 mm. Due to the reduced thickness, the solar module has a reduced volume being beneficial during transport to a destination location. However, the thickness has been optimized to, with the reinforcement struts, still providing for sufficient mechanical stability for the solar module.

A slim solar module ( 1 ) is proposed. It comprises a solar laminate ( 3 ) comprising plural solar cells ( 9 ) interposed between front and rear cover sheets ( 13, 15 ), a frame ( 5 ) enclosing the solar laminate ( 3 ) and at least one reinforcement strut ( 7 ) arranged at a rear surface of the solar laminate ( 3 ). A ratio between a frame surface and a frame thickness shall be between 45000 and 70000. For example, the frame may have a thickness of less than 35 mm. Specifically, the frame may have a length of 1665 mm, a width of 991 mm and a thickness of 30 mm. Due to the reduced thickness, the solar module has a reduced volume being beneficial during transport to a destination location. However, the thickness has been optimized to, with the reinforcement struts, still providing for sufficient mechanical stability for the solar module.

A solar cell assembly ( 200 ) is presented. The solar cell assembly includes one or more solar cell units ( 211 ) coupled in series. The solar cell unit includes a first solar cell series ( 221 ) and a second solar cell series ( 222 ) connected in parallel. The first and second solar cell series include a plurality of solar cells ( 202 ) connecting in series respectively. The solar cell assembly also includes a by-pass diode ( 201 ) coupled to each solar cell unit and shared between the first and second solar cell series in each solar cell unit.