Solar battery module and solar battery array

Abstract

A solar battery module ( 40 ) is constituted by a stack of: a plurality of solar battery strings ( 30 ) and bus sections ( 32 ) connected to both ends of each of the plurality of solar battery strings ( 30 ); flexible resin layers ( 33 a through 33 c ); and a flexible resin film ( 34 ). The flexible resin layers ( 33 a through 33 c ) and the flexible resin film ( 34 ) have, on a light receiving surface side of solar battery cells ( 20 ), holes through which the bus sections ( 32 ) are each partially exposed. The exposed parts of the bus sections ( 32 ) serve as a respective plurality of electrically-connecting means ( 32 a ). A solar battery array ( 41 ) is constituted by a plurality of solar battery modules ( 40 ). The plurality of solar battery modules ( 40 ) are electrically connected with each other via the plurality of electrically-connecting means ( 32 a ). This makes it possible to achieve a large-scale solar battery array ( 41 ) with high mechanical strength.

1 . A solar battery module for constituting a solar battery array, comprising:
 at least one solar battery string that is constituted by a plurality of solar battery cells electrically connected in series with each other;   bus sections electrically connected with respective endmost ones of the plurality of solar battery cells that constitute said at least one solar battery string; and   at least one flexible resin layer provided on each of both sides, which are a first side and a second side, of the solar battery module so as to sandwich said at least one solar battery string and the bus sections,   the first side of the both sides of the solar battery module having first holes, through which the bus sections are each partially exposed, and   the bus sections having areas which are exposed through the respective first holes, the areas serving as a respective plurality of electrically-connecting means.   
     
     
         2 . The solar battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a number of said at least one solar battery string is two or more; and   the two or more solar battery strings are electrically connected in series with each other via corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically-connecting means.   
     
     
         3 . The solar battery module according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a wire connected with corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically-connecting means,   the two or more solar battery strings being electrically connected in series with each other via the corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically-connecting means and the wire.   
     
     
         4 . The solar battery module according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 light receiving surfaces of the respective plurality of solar battery cells are situated on the second side; and   the plurality of electrically-connecting means are on the first side.   
     
     
         5 . The solar battery module according to clam  1 , wherein:
 the second side having second holes so as to correspond to positions of the respective first holes, through which second holes the bus sections are each partially exposed.   
     
     
         6 . The solar battery module according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible resin film provided on the first side which is the opposite side of the second side on which light receiving surfaces of the respective plurality of solar battery cells are situated,   wherein a number of said at least one flexible resin layer provided on the first side of the solar battery module is two or more, and   the flexible resin film is provided between the two or more flexible resin layers.   
     
     
         7 . The solar battery module according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible resin film provided on both of the first side and the second side of the solar battery module so as to cover said at least one flexible resin layer.   
     
     
         8 . A solar battery array, comprising:
 a plurality of solar battery modules recited in  claim 1 ,   the plurality of solar battery modules being electrically connected in series with each other via corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically-connecting means, each of which serves as an end of an electrical connection in a corresponding one of the plurality of solar battery modules.   
     
     
         9 . The solar battery array according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of solar battery modules are arranged such that adjacent ones of the plurality of solar battery modules overlap each other at their neighboring ends; and   said neighboring ends are physically connected with each other by bonding, sewing, or a rivet.   
     
     
         10 . The solar battery array according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a wire connected with corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically-connecting means,   the plurality of solar battery modules being electrically connected in series with each other via the corresponding ones of the plurality of electrically-connecting means and the wire.