NOVELTY - A photovoltaic module (1) in the form of a laminate with a solar cell system (2) as the core between encapsulating materials (3, 3'), in which at least one of these materials (3') comprises a sealing layer (4') and a barrier layer (6) consisting of a plastic film or compound foil with an inorganic oxide layer (7) deposited from the vapor phase.    USE - For the production of electrical energy from sunlight, e.g. in emergency telephones, camper vans, buildings with integrated roof and cladding systems, large-scale units and solar power stations.    ADVANTAGE - A photovoltaic module with high transparency in the visible/near UV regions and a good blocking action against short-wave UV, which is resistant to weathering and also essentially impermeable to water vapor, but without showing the disadvantage associated with prior-art aluminum barrier layers (i.e. stray currents due to the conductivity of the metal).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a process for the production of a module (1) by (a) vapor-phase deposition of an oxide layer (7) on a plastic film or compound foil (6), (b) encapsulation of a solar cell system (2) between sealing layers (4, 4'), (c) transferring the module stack to the loading station of a system in which it is kept at a temperature below the softening point of layers (4, 4'), (d) transferring the stack to a vacuum laminator in which it is heated under vacuum to the softening point of (4, 4') and (e) letting in air without cooling, transferring the composite body to a hardening oven and hardening layers (4, 4') to form a laminated module (2) which is then cooled and taken out for further processing.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - Cross-section of photovoltaic module.    Module (1)    Solar cell system (2)    Encapsulating materials (3, 3')    Plastic sealing layers (4, 4')    Glass or compound foil (5)    Barrier layer film (6)    Inorganic oxide layer (7)    Silicon cells (8)    Contact wires (9)    Adhesive layer (10)    Additional plastic film or compound foil (11)