A solar cell device comprising: an array of solar cells , wherein the cells are disposed on a surface region having a periphery and an interior area, each cell in the array having a top side and a bottom side, two long side edges (112A, 112B; 162A, 162B) opposite one another, and two short side edges opposite one another, wherein the array includes: cells of a first type (A) each of which has metallization on its bottom side and which has one or more electrical contacts on its top side adjacent one of its short side edges and not adjacent the other one of its short side edges and not adjacent any of its long side edges , and cells of a second different type (B) each of which has metallization on its bottom side and which has one or more electrical contacts on its top side adjacent one of its long side edges and not adjacent the other one of its long side edges and not adjacent any of its short side edges , wherein the cells in the array are connected to one another in series; the solar cell device further including: a first terminal electrically connected directly to a first cell in the series connection, wherein the first cell is disposed at the periphery; and a second terminal electrically connected directly to a last cell in the series connection, wherein the last cell is disposed at the interior area. an array of solar cells , wherein the cells are disposed on a surface region having a periphery and an interior area, each cell in the array having a top side and a bottom side, two long side edges (112A, 112B; 162A, 162B) opposite one another, and two short side edges opposite one another, wherein the array includes: cells of a first type (A) each of which has metallization on its bottom side and which has one or more electrical contacts on its top side adjacent one of its short side edges and not adjacent the other one of its short side edges and not adjacent any of its long side edges , and cells of a second different type (B) each of which has metallization on its bottom side and which has one or more electrical contacts on its top side adjacent one of its long side edges and not adjacent the other one of its long side edges and not adjacent any of its short side edges , cells of a first type (A) each of which has metallization on its bottom side and which has one or more electrical contacts on its top side adjacent one of its short side edges and not adjacent the other one of its short side edges and not adjacent any of its long side edges , and cells of a second different type (B) each of which has metallization on its bottom side and which has one or more electrical contacts on its top side adjacent one of its long side edges and not adjacent the other one of its long side edges and not adjacent any of its short side edges , wherein the cells in the array are connected to one another in series; the solar cell device further including: a first terminal electrically connected directly to a first cell in the series connection, wherein the first cell is disposed at the periphery; and a second terminal electrically connected directly to a last cell in the series connection, wherein the last cell is disposed at the interior area. a first terminal electrically connected directly to a first cell in the series connection, wherein the first cell is disposed at the periphery; and a second terminal electrically connected directly to a last cell in the series connection, wherein the last cell is disposed at the interior area. <EOS>