Editorial of the 7th Workshop on Metallization and Interconnection for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells

For the seventh-time experts and specialists from all over the world discussed the latest status, trends and new directions in the field of metallization and interconnection for crystalline silicon solar cells on October 23rd and 24th, 2017, in Constance, Germany. The first Workshop on Metallization for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells was held in 2008 in Utrecht, The Netherlands to provide a forum for metallization specialists and was followed by Workshops in Constance, Germany, 2010; in Charleroi, Belgium, 2011; and again, in Constance in 2013, 2014 and 2016. In 2016, the Workshop was renamed as Workshop on Metallization and Interconnection for Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells to reflect the growing importance of interconnection. This year, about 151 participants from 17 countries all over the world came to discuss the results of 35 presentations and participate to panel discussions. The presentations are available on www.metallizationworkshop.info as pdf documents. These proceedings contain peer-reviewed papers relating to some of the workshop contributions. During the Workshop, the participants filled in a questionnaire about their views on the future of metallization and interconnection. In these proceedings, we also show the results of the 7th edition questionnaire plotted together with results from previous editions and we discuss general trends.