A simple analytical model for the voltage dependence of the photocurrent in CdTe n-i-p solar cells is presented. The physical model is corroborated with a numerical solution of Poisson and the two continuity equations under illumination and shows excellent agreement with the numerical data. The new model is compared with previously reported models of Bube and Crandall. The new model illuminates the loss mechanism of carriers near the front interface of CdTe solar cells. It is shown that the photocurrent is high when the carrier velocity due to the electric field is higher than the product of the absorption coefficient and the diffusion coefficient, almost regardless of the interface recombination velocity value. At lower electric field values, the interface recombination velocity has a stronger effect on the photocurrent. Experimental conditions leading to a reduction of the electric field and a corresponding decrease in the collection efficiency in CdTe n-i-p solar cells are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.