NOVELTY - A solar cell unit comprises solar cell (402) having length which is much larger than diameter, where cross-section of cell has cross-sectional symmetry or approximate cross-sectional radial symmetry; hollowed transparent casing (310) encasing the cell; and filler layer (330) between cell and casing. The cell contains substrate that is tubular shaped or solid rod; back-electrode circumferentially disposed on substrate; semiconductor junction (410); and transparent conductive layer (412). The unit further has antireflective coating circumferentially disposed on hollowed transparent casing.    USE - As solar cell unit in solar cell assembly (claimed) for converting solar energy into electrical energy; and in power generating applications.    ADVANTAGE - The smaller solar cells are easier to manufacture at a large scale and can be assembled into different sizes and shapes to suit the ultimate application. The solar cell units does not break easily under pressure during transportation or routine handling processes.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A solar cell unit comprises a solar cell (402) having a length and a diameter, where the length is much larger than the diameter and a cross-section of the solar cell has cross-sectional symmetry or approximate cross-sectional radial symmetry; a hollowed transparent casing (310) that encases the solar cell; and a filler layer (330) between the solar cell and the hollowed transparent casing. The solar cell contains a substrate that is either tubular shaped or solid rod; back-electrode circumferentially disposed on the substrate; a semiconductor junction (410) circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode; a transparent conductive layer (412) circumferentially disposed on the semiconductor junction. The solar cell unit further comprises an antireflective coating circumferentially disposed on the hollowed transparent casing, where the antireflective coating comprises MgF2, silicone nitrate, titanium nitrate, silicon monoxide or silicone oxide nitrite. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a solar cell assembly comprising several solar cell units, where each solar cell unit in the several solar cell units have the structure of the above solar cell unit. The solar cell units are arranged in coplanar rows to form the solar cell assembly. The assembly further comprises an albedo surface positioned to reflect sunlight into the several solar cell units;    (2) manufacturing an elongated solar cell unit, where the solar cell unit comprises a solar cell having length which is much larger than the diameter and a cross-section of the solar cell has cross-sectional symmetry or approximate cross-sectional radial symmetry and hollowed transparent casing, involving: assembling the solar cell by circumferentially disposing, molding or forming a back-electrode on a substrate that is either tubular shaped or a solid rod; circumferentially disposing, molding or forming semiconductor junction on the back-electrode; circumferentially disposing, molding or forming a transparent conductive layer on the semiconductor junction; integrating the solar cell into the hollowed transparent casing; and forming a filler layer between the solar cell and the hollowed transparent casing; and    (3) manufacturing an elongated solar cell involving: depositing a transparent conducting oxide conductive film on a tubular shaped or rigid solid rod shaped core; depositing a semiconductor junction on the transparent conducting oxide conductive film; and depositing an outer transparent conductive layer on the semiconductor junction; or depositing an absorber layer on a first face of a metallic web or a conducting foil; depositing a window layer on to the absorber layer; depositing a transparent conductive layer on to the window layer; and wrapping the metallic web or the conducting foil around an elongated core, thereby forming an elongated solar cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows cross-sectional view of solar cell.    Transparent tubular casing (310)    Filler layer (330)    Elongated solar cells (402)    Semiconductor junctions (410)    Transparent conductive layer (412)    Counter-electrode strip (420)    Conductive wiring (1302)    Conducting foil or metallic web (1304)    Elongated tubing. (1306)