NOVELTY - A thermoplastic film or sheet (20) (F1) comprises first surface layer containing acid copolymer and/or ionomer, and second surface layer containing an ethylene acrylate ester copolymer.    USE - In solar cell pre-laminate assembly for manufacturing a solar cell module (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The film provides tailored, low modulus solar cell encapsulant material which provides excellent protection to the solar cell from physical damage, excellent adhesion to the other solar cell laminate layers, and long term stability to thermal and UV degradation.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a solar cell pre-laminate assembly (A1) comprising a front-sheet encapsulant layer; a solar cell layer (13) containing electronically interconnected solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a rear side; and an optional back-sheet encapsulant layer (14), where the front-sheet encapsulant layer and the optional back-sheet encapsulant layer are laminated to the light-receiving side and the rear side of the solar cell layer, respectively, and at least one of the two encapsulant layers is formed of one layer of the thermoplastic film or sheet (F1);    (2) a solar cell pre-laminate assembly (A2) comprising an incident layer (11) made of transparent material, which is positioned adjacent to, a front-sheet encapsulant layer that is positioned adjacent to, a solar cell layer comprising electronically interconnected solar cells, which is positioned adjacent to, a back-sheet encapsulant layer that is positioned adjacent to, a backing layer (15), where at least one of the two encapsulant layers is formed of one layer of the thermoplastic film or sheet (F1);    (3) manufacturing a solar cell module involving providing the solar cell pre-laminate assembly (A1/A2) and laminating the assembly to form the solar cell module by subjecting the assembly to heat and then to pressure or vacuum.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a cross-sectional view of the solar cell pre-laminate assembly.    Incident layer (11)    Solar cell layer (13)    Back-sheet encapsulant layer (14)    Backing layer (15)    Thermoplastic film/sheet. (20)