MODULAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ASSEMBLY TECHNOLOGY FOR STANDARDISED MANUFACTURING EXPRO+

Objective: To develop modular photovoltaic assembly technologies that can be used in different solar array configurations enabling reduction of the manufacturing costs.Description: The new mega constellation landscape requires an increase in the production capacity of solar arrays which are suitable for this new scenario. For doing so, it is necessary to have a versatile concept of modular Photovoltaic Assembly (PVA) which can be used on both semi or fully automated processes and with the main goal of reducing the cost and increasing the production throughput. The modularity of the PVA is aimed to allow the combination of the developed modules (series/parallel connection) in order to meet the power needs of the specific application and depending on the particular characteristicsof the power architecture. The main benefit of following this modular approach lies on the fact that the same PVA units can be usedfor different mission profiles and also by different solar array suppliers with no capacity to produce their own PVA. This activityencompasses the following tasks: - Definition of a specification of PVA module compatible with a low-cost solar cell - Development of technology building blocks derived from the previously defined specification - Description of manufacturing processes - Breadboarding and preliminary testing of components making up the modular PVA concept