A solar cell structure including a silicon carrier defining a front side and a back side, and including an N-type portion having an exposed portion on the front side of the carrier and a P-type portion having an exposed portion on the front side of the carrier, the N-type portion and the P-type portion defining a P-N junction, and a solar cell defining a front side and a back side, wherein the solar cell is connected to the front side of the carrier such that the back side of the solar cell is electrically coupled to the exposed portion of the N-type portion, and wherein the front side of the solar cell is electrically coupled to the exposed portion of the P-type portion.