Progress in monolithic series connection of wafer-based crystalline silicon solar cells by the novel ‘HighVo’ (High Voltage) cell concept

Progress in the development of the new HighVo cell concept for monolithic series connection of wafer-based crystalline silicon solar cells is presented. HighVo cells have been produced using standard low-cost silicon wafer technology without any photo lithographic masking step. The cells obtained with a total area of 21 cm2 exhibited a voltage at the maximum power point VMPP of 2.8 V and a conversion efficiency η of 11.4 %. To our knowledge this is the highest conversion efficiency reported so far for monolithically integrated non-thin-film silicon solar cells.