TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Cell: The solar cell assembly further comprises a second polymeric layer that is positioned next to the solar cell component on the opposite side from the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet; an incident layer that is formed of a transparent material and serves as an outer layer at the light-receiving side of the assembly, where the transparent material is glass or a plastic film or sheet; and a back-sheet that serves as an outer layer at the back side of the assembly, where the back-sheet is formed of glass, plastic sheets or films, or metal sheets or films. The stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet is positioned next to the light-receiving side of the solar cell component and serves as a front-sheet encapsulant layer and the second polymeric layer is positioned next to the back side of the solar cell component and serves as a second encapsulant layer, where the second encapsulant layer is formed of a second layer of the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet. The solar cell pre-laminate assembly consists from top to bottom: (i) an incident layer formed of a transparent material, which is positioned next-to, (ii) a front-sheet encapsulant layer that is positioned next to, (iii) a solar cell component comprising several solar cells, which is positioned next to, (iv) an optional second encapsulant layer that is positioned next to, (v) a back-sheet, where at least one of the two encapsulant layers is formed of a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet that comprises a poly(vinyl butyral) composition containing 10-23 wt.% of a plasticizer, based on the total weight of the composition. Preferred Components: The solar cell are selected from multi-crystalline solar cells, thin film solar cells, compound semiconductor solar cells, dye sensitized solar cells, and amorphous silicon solar cells. Preferred Method: In the method (M1), the step of lamination is conducted by subjecting the assembly to heat; and the step of lamination further involves subjecting the assembly to vacuum. The process (M2) involves: providing a second interlayer sheet; placing the solar cell component between the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet and the second interlayer sheet to form a pre-laminate; and the encapsulating involves heating the pre-laminate so that the solar cell component is encapsulated, where the second interlayer sheet is a stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet. The process (M2) further involves forming a solar cell module comprising the encapsulated solar cell component with an incident layer and a back sheet layer.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The plasticizer is selected from triethylene glycol di-2-ethylhexanoate, tetraethylene glycol di-n-heptanoate and/or dibutyl sebacate.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The poly(vinyl butyral) composition contains plasticizer (15-18 wt.%). The stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet has a thickness of less than or equal to 60 (preferably 10-20) mils (1.52 mm, preferably 0.25-0.51 mm); a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 35-60 (preferably 50-55) degrees C. The poly(vinyl butyral) used to make the stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet has a weight average molecular weight of 30000-600000 (preferably 200000-300000), and contains 12-23 (preferably 15-19) wt.% of hydroxyl groups calculated as polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). Preferred Components: The second polymeric layer comprises a polymeric composition selected from poly(vinyl butyral), ionomers, ethylene vinyl acetate, acoustic poly(vinyl acetal), polyurethane, polyvinylchloride, polyethylenes, polyolefin block elastomers, ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, acid copolymers, silicone elastomers and epoxy resins. EXAMPLE - A 12-inch by 12-inch solar cell pre-laminate assembly was assembled and laminated by lamination process as follows. The assembly contains the various layers as follows: Layer 1 contained Starphire (RTM: glass), layer 2 contained 20 mil (0.51 mm) thick stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet, layer 3 contained solar cell having 10-inch by 10-inch amorphous silicon photovoltaic device comprising a stainless steel substrate with an amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, layer 4 contained the solar cell, and layer 5 contained the Starphire. For the assembly containing a film layer as the incident or back-sheet layer, a cover glass sheet was placed over the film layer. The pre-laminate assembly was then placed within a vacuum bag, the vacuum bag was sealed and a vacuum was applied to remove the air from the vacuum bag. The bag was placed into an oven and heated to 90-100 degrees C for 30 minutes to remove any air contained between the assembly. The pre-press assembly was then subjected to autoclaving at 135 degrees C for 30 minutes in an air autoclave to a pressure of 200 psig. The air was then cooled while no more air was added to the autoclave. After 20 minutes of cooling when the air temperature reached less than 50 degrees C, the excess pressure was vented, and the laminate was removed from the autoclave, thus solar cell pre-laminate assembly was assembled.