This Study addresses the potential of different approaches to improve the generated current in silicon thin-film solar cells and modules. Decreasing the carrier concentration in the front contact has proven to increase the quantum efficiency and the cell-current density significantly. Additionally, an optically improved ZnO/Ag back reflector and the optimized light incoupling by anti-reflection layers were studied. In this contribution, we show the potential of the different optical components and discuss combinations thereof in order to obtain a maximized cell-current density in silicon thin-film solar cells. Limitations Of the cell-current density are discussed with respect to theoretical calculations. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.