Photovoltaic cell assembly

A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic assembly, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing at least two solar cells, the solar cells including a photoactive portion with a top surface, a top collection structure, and a bottom conductive substrate, further wherein the cell includes a leading edge and a trailing edge;
• b) providing a at least one conductive element, each with a first surface;
• c) providing, at least one terminal bar;
• d) placing a first cell such that a bottom surface of the conductive substrate near the leading edge of a first of the plurality of solar cells contacts a first terminal bar;
• (e) connecting a first terminal bar to the first cell using a conductive component;
• folding a first conductive element at least once about an axis along its longest dimension and wherein the at least one bend forms an angle α from 0° and 45°;
• (g) applying the folded conductive element to the top of the first cell near the trailing edge and precisely placed such that the conductive element contacts the top surface of the solar con and/or the top collection structure;
• and
• (h) placing a second cell on the folded conductive element that has already been applied to the first solar cell such that a bottom surface of the conductive substrate of the second solar cell contacts the folded conductive element, thus producing a string having a first cell and an end cell,
• (i) optionally folding an additional conductive element at least once about an axis, applying the additional folded conductive element to the top of the end cell near the trailing edge and precisely placed such that the conductive element contacts the top surface of the solar cell and/or the top collection structure;
• and placing an additional cell on the folded conductive element that has already been applied to the end solar cell such that a bottom surface of the conductive substrate of the additional solar cell contacts the folded conductive element, to form a string with a first cell and at least one intermediate cell and an end cell, wherein the previous end cell becomes an intermediate cell,
• (j) optionally repeating step (i),
• (k) placing a second terminal bar such that it contacts the top surface of the last of the end solar cell on a buss line that is part of the collection structure edge of the end solar cell;
• (l) connecting the second terminal bar to the last cell using a conductive component.