The absorption factor of a PV cell is defined as the fraction of incident solar irradiance that is absorbed by the cell. This absorption factor is one of the major parameters determining the cell temperature under operational conditions. Experimentally the absorption factor can be derived from reflection and transmission measurements. The spectral reflection and transmission factors were measured for a set of crystalline silicon (c-Si) samples with a gradually increasing complexity. The experimental results agree very well with the results from a 2D numerical model that was developed. It was found that the AM1.5 absorption factor of a typical encapsulated c-Si photovoltaic cell is as high as 90.5%. Insight was gained in the cell parameters that influence this absorption factor. The presence of texture at the front of the c-Si wafer of sufficient steepness is essential to achieve such a high absorption factor. Sub-bandgap solar irradiance (lambda > 1.1 mu m) is mainly absorbed in the very thin emitter by means of free-carrier absorption. By minimizing reflective losses over the entire solar spectrum, the AM 1.5 absorption of c-Si cells can theoretically be increased to 93.0%. The effect on the annual yield of PV and PV/thermal systems is quantified. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.