What does BC mean in CONTACT

Back Contact (BC) refers to a type of solar cell design where the electrical contacts are located on the rear side of the cell, instead of the front side as in conventional solar cells. This design allows for improved light absorption and reduced optical losses, resulting in higher solar cell efficiency.

BC solar cells offer several advantages over conventional front-contact solar cells:

• Improved light absorption: The absence of metal contacts on the front side of the cell allows more sunlight to reach the active semiconductor material, resulting in higher photocurrent generation.
• Reduced optical losses: The metal contacts in front-contact solar cells can reflect or absorb sunlight, reducing the amount of light available for conversion into electricity. BC solar cells eliminate this issue by placing the contacts on the rear side, minimizing optical losses.
• Improved aesthetics: BC solar panels have a more uniform appearance due to the absence of visible metal contacts on the front surface, making them suitable for applications where aesthetics are important.

While BC solar cells offer improved efficiency and aesthetics, they also have some limitations:

• More complex manufacturing process: BC solar cells require a more complex manufacturing process compared to front-contact solar cells, which can increase production costs.
• Higher cell breakage risk: The metal contacts on the rear side of BC solar cells can be more susceptible to breakage during handling and installation.
• Currently lower market share: BC solar cells have a lower market share compared to conventional front-contact solar cells due to their higher production costs and limited availability.