TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Materials: The semi-rigid layer may be made from glass. The top protective layer may be made of glass.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The photovoltaic layer is disposed over the base flexible membrane layer. The semi-rigid layer is disposed over the photovoltaic layer. It is transparent. Alternatively, the semi-rigid layer is disposed over the base flexible membrane layer and the photovoltaic layer is disposed over the semi-rigid layer. The base flexible membrane layer, semi-rigid layer and photovoltaic layer are attached to one another by a heat-activated adhesive or a non-heat activated adhesive. A first adhesive layer is disposed between the base flexible membrane layer and the semi-rigid layer. A second adhesive layer is disposed between the semi-rigid layer and the photovoltaic layer. A third adhesive layer is disposed between the photovoltaic layer and the top protective layer. The photovoltaic cell is a crystalline silicon solar cell. The photovoltaic layer includes photovoltaic cells distributed in a two-dimensional flat array of rows and columns. An electrical connector interconnects the photovoltaic cells to allow for the extraction of electrical power. The top protective layer has a smooth or textured top surface (44). Preferred Dimensions: The first adhesive layer has a thickness of 0.008-0.018 inch. The second and third adhesive layers have a thickness of 0.018 inch. The base flexible membrane layer has a thickness of 0.04-0.09 (preferably 0.06) inch. The semi-rigid layer has a thickness of 0.060-0.150 (preferably 0.125) inch. The photovoltaic cell is sized larger than 2 inches by 2 inches (preferably larger than 4 inches by 4 inches). It has a thickness of 0.01-0.018 inch. The top protective layer comprising a fluoropolymer film (42) has a thickness of 0.002 inch.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Material: The semi-rigid layer may be made from aluminum.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The heat-activated adhesive is ethylene-vinyl acetate. The non-heat activated adhesive is a pressure-sensitive adhesive, preferably glue. The second and third adhesive layers are ethylene-vinyl acetate. The base flexible membrane layer is made of a thermoplastic polyolefin having a melting point less than that of ethylene-vinyl acetate. The first adhesive layer is a non-heat activated adhesive. The base flexible membrane is made of a single-ply thermoplastic roofing membrane, optionally vulcanized elastomeric membrane or modified bituminous roofing membrane. It may be made of polyvinyl chloride. The semi-rigid layer is fiberglass reinforced plastic. The top protective layer may be a dirt-repellent, fluoropolymer film, preferably a matte finish film. The fluoropolymer film is made from ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, fluorinated ethylene propylene, perfluoro alkoxy, tetrafluoroethylene/hexafluoropropylene/vinylidene fluoride, or polyvinylidene fluoride.