SOLAR CELL BONDED TO A FLEXIBLE SUPPORT

1 . A solar cell assembly, comprising:

a flexible support having a top side and a bottom side and a predetermined size;

a flat, non-bowed solar cell component having a top side and a bottom side; and

bonding adhesive located between the top side of the support and the bottom side of the solar cell component;

wherein the support has substantially uniform borders of 0.003 inches to 0.2 inches in width extending beyond the edges of the solar cell component.

2 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bonding adhesive comprises rigid particles of substantially uniform size.

3 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the solar cell component comprises multiple mechanical standoffs that are interconnects or shims on the bottom side of the solar cell component.

4 . The solar cell assembly of claim 2 , wherein the rigid particles are composed of glass and are spherical or substantially spherical in shape.

5 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the solar cell component is selected from the group consisting of a solar cell, a coverglass-interconnect-cell (CIC) assembly, a string of solar cells, a string of a coverglass-interconnect cells (CICs), and combinations thereof.

6 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the border has a width of 0.003 inches and 0.1 inches.

7 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the border had a width of 0.003 inches to 0.05 inches.

8 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the border has a width of 0.005 inches to 0.025 inches.

9 . The solar cell assembly of claim 1 , wherein the border has a width of 0.010 inches to 0.025 inches.