The optical properties of microcrystalline silicon substrate-type solar cells with a front ZnO thickness of 500-1000 nm as required for monolithic series connection in PV-modules are investigated. The surface texture of the front ZnO was varied to study the possibility to reduce reflection losses and to improve light trapping. Before encapsulation, certain textures of the front ZnO exhibit improved light coupling for substrate solar cells. For substrate solar cells encapsulated with EVA and a glass cover, however, additional texture of the front ZnO has hardly any effect. Encapsulation also removes the antireflection conditions in case that the front ZnO was originally designed as ARC. So far, the quantum efficiency of encapsulated substrate solar cells does not show the high level as observed in superstrate solar cells possibly due to parasitic absorption in the front and back contact and the not optimized texture of the reflector (substrate). © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.