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A full size TESSERA shade tolerant module has been made and was tested under various shadow conditions. The results show that the dedicated electrical interconnection of cells result in an almost linear response under shading. Furthermore, the voltage at maximum power point is almost independent of the shadow. This decreases the demand on the voltage range of the inverter. The increased shadow linearity results in a calculated increase in annual yield of about 4% for a typical Dutch house.

This paper describes the development and output measurements on a new shade robust module, named the Tessera module. This module uses a novel electrical configuration, comprised of shade independent blocks protected by in-laminate diodes, with a mixture of series and parallel connections. By using ECN's existing back contact technology [1], no significant additional manufacturing costs occur. The design, method and manufacturing technology will be explained. The module leads to an increased annual output in case of shading and an increase in system safety due to lower heat dissipation: of 40C instead of 130C compared to standard diodes, and reduced failure of components. Annual yield has been calculated showing significant gains. Index Terms-annual yield, micro-inverter, PV module, shade, shade robust, shade linear, plug and play.

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