Method for the production and series connection of photovoltaic elements to give a solar module and solar module

A method for generating and for connecting in series photovoltaic elements on a substrate, comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a first electrical contact layer on the substrate;
• b) providing active semiconductor layers on top of one another on the first electrical contact layer;
• c) providing a second electrical contact layer on the active semiconductor layers on the side of the semiconductor layers located opposite of the first contact layer;
• d) creating a plurality of parallel stepped trenches so as to form and separate a plurality of photovoltaic elements (A, B, C . . . ), wherein the surface of the substrate and the surface of the first contact layer next to one another are exposed in the respective stepped trenches;
• e) providing insulator material in the stepped trenches;
• f) locally removing the insulator material, whereby the surface of the first electrical contact layer of a photovoltaic element (B) in the stepped trenches is exposed;
• and
• g) providing contact material from the surface of the second electrical contact layer of a photovoltaic element (A) up to the surface of the first electrical contact layer of the adjoining photovoltaic element (B) from which the insulator material has been removed.