Claims

1. Method for fabricating a photovoltaic label (1) for a photovoltaic module (23), the method at least comprising: providing a solar cell arrangement (3) including a plurality of photovoltaic cells (9) and electrical connections (11) interconnecting the photovoltaic cells (9); providing a front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and a rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7); arranging the solar cell arrangement (3) between the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7);

- joining the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5), the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) and the solar cell arrangement (3) together for forming an intermediate product photovoltaic label (1) in which the solar cell arrangement (3) is encapsulated between the front and rear side polymeric stabilisation foils (5, 7); and cutting the intermediate product photovoltaic label (1) along border regions thereof to form the photovoltaic label (1) with final dimensions, wherein, in the step of cutting, the intermediate product photovoltaic label (1) is cut using a laser beam (13), wherein the laser beam (13) is applied with physical characteristics which are selected such that, in the step of cutting, the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) are joined as a positive substance jointing in an area (19) adjoining a cutting edge (17) due to energy applied by the laser beam (13).

2. Method according to claim 1,

28

AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) wherein the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) are cut in a common cutting action using the laser beam (13).

3. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) each consist of a polymeric material, wherein the laser beam (13) is applied with physical characteristics which are selected such that, in the step of cutting, the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) are temporarily heated to a maximum temperature in an area (19) adjoining a cutting edge (17) due to energy applied by the laser beam (13), the maximum temperature being between a glass transition temperature and an autoignition temperature of the polymeric material of at least one of the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7).

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) each consist of a polymeric material, wherein the laser beam (13) is applied with physical characteristics which are selected such that, in the step of cutting, the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) are temporarily heated to a maximum temperature in an area (19) adjoining a cutting edge (17) due to energy applied by the laser beam, the maximum temperature being between a glass transition temperature and a melting temperature of the polymeric material of at least one of the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the intermediate product photovoltaic label (1) is cut using the laser beam (13) such as to form the photovoltaic label (1) with final dimensions with a lateral tolerance of less than 1 mm with regards to predefined dimensions.

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

29

AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) wherein at least one of the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) comprises at least one marker (41) and wherein, during the step of cutting, the laser beam (13) is guided with reference to the at least one marker (41).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the photovoltaic cells (9) included in the solar cell arrangement (3) are wafer-based silicon photovoltaic cells (9).

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) have different physical characteristics.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) have different thicknesses.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5) and the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) comprise different materials.

11. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the step of joining, the front side polymeric stabilisation foil (5), the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) and the solar cell arrangement (3) are joined together by at least one of an application of heat and a lamination process.

12. Method for fabricating a photovoltaic module (23), the method comprising:

- at least one of preparing a photovoltaic label (1) in accordance with a method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11 and providing a photovoltaic label (1) being prepared in accordance with a method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, and

- preparing a carrier structure (25) for carrying the photovoltaic label (1),

30

AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) wherein the carrier structure (25) is prepared with a polymer (33) being in a mouldable condition such that the polymer (33) forms a positive substance jointing with the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7) upon solidifying of the polymer (33). 13. Method of claim 12, wherein, upon the preparing of the carrier structure (25), the polymer (33) being in the mouldable condition is injected into a mould (29), wherein the mould (29) comprises a recess (31) having recess dimensions, and wherein, upon the preparing of the carrier structure (25), the photovoltaic label (1) is arranged in the recess (31) of the mould (29) after having been cut to the final dimensions during the preparing of the photovoltaic label (1), the final dimensions being equal or less than 1 mm smaller than the recess dimensions.

14. Method of one of claims 12 and 13, wherein, upon the preparing of the carrier structure (25), the polymer (33) in its mouldable condition is applied to the photovoltaic label (1) exclusively at an exposed surface of the rear side polymeric stabilisation foil (7).

31

AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)