All front contact solar cell

A solar panel comprising:

• at least one string of series connected solar cells;
• and
• a plurality of cell interconnects;
• wherein
• one or more of the solar cells is formed from a circular wafer substrate, including an N-side layer proximate to a first planar surface and a P-side layer proximate to a second planar surface, opposite to the first planar surface;
• an N-side conductive contact is electrically coupled with the N-side layer and a P-side conductive contact electrically coupled with the P-side layer;
• the P-side conductive contact and the N-side conductive contact are each disposed proximate to the first planar surface;
• the circular wafer substrate includes an active area and an edge exclusion zone, the edge exclusion zone being an annular region disposed outside the active area proximate to a perimeter of the circular wafer substrate;
• a first portion of the N-side layer is disposed within the active area;
• a second portion of the N-side layer is disposed outside the active area and is electrically isolated from the first portion of the N-side layer, the second portion being non-contiguous with the first portion and separated from the first portion by a gap area that exposes the P-side layer;
• the P-side contact is disposed outside the active area, electrically coupled with one or both of the P-side layer and the second portion of the N-side layer and not electrically coupled with the first portion of the N-side layer;
• and
• each solar cell in the at least one string is electrically connected to at least one adjacent solar cell in the string by way of at least one of the cell interconnects.