NOVELTY - The apparatus for converting light energy to electric energy, comprises a first number of photovoltaic modules (32), a concentrator (34) comprising a first number of concentrator assemblies, solar cells disposed on a portion of a substrate surface, and a frame. The photovoltaic module comprises an outer shell (40), which defines an inner volume (60) and is operable to allow light to enter the inner volume, a substrate disposed within the inner volume, and a material disposed on a surface of the substrate and operable to convert light energy to electric energy.    USE - The apparatus is useful for converting light energy to electric energy.    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus is capable of converting light energy to electric energy with improved efficiency by coupling of frames for elongated solar cells with integral reflective constructs in a simple manner.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The apparatus for converting light energy to electric energy, comprises a first number of photovoltaic modules (32), a concentrator (34) comprising a first number of concentrator assemblies, solar cells disposed on a portion of a substrate surface, and a frame. The photovoltaic module comprises an outer shell (40), which defines an inner volume (60) and is operable to allow light to enter the inner volume, a substrate disposed within the inner volume, and a material disposed on a surface of the substrate and operable to convert light energy to electric energy. The outer shell is characterized by a longitudinal dimension, a cross-sectional dimension and an optical property, where the longitudinal dimension is greater than four times the cross-sectional dimension. The optical property directs a portion of light energy that strikes a surface of the outer shell towards the material. The concentrator assembly is associated with a corresponding photovoltaic module in the first number of photovoltaic modules and comprises a first surface (36) and a second surface (38) that collectively form a concave structure operable to transmit light energy that enters the concave structure to the corresponding particular photovoltaic module. The first surface and the second surface comprise a shape of the involute of the particular photovoltaic module corresponding to the respective concentrator assembly. The concave structure extends less than a height of the particular photovoltaic module. The frame comprises a first support with electric contacts and a second support, where each photovoltaic module extends from the first support to the second support and is electrically coupled to an electric contact in the electric contacts disposed within the first support. The concentrator is mechanically attached to the frame. The outer shell and the substrate define an annular volume. A second material is disposed in the annular volume, where the outer shell has an optical property of redirecting a portion of light energy that strikes a surface of the outer shell towards the second material and the second material is operable to redirect light from the outer shell to the first material. The second material has an index of refraction equal to or less than that of the first material. The first surface and the second surface extend less than the height of the outer shell. The solar cells are operable to convert light energy to electric energy and an upper layer of the solar cell has an index of refraction greater than that of air. The substrate is non-polar and cylindrical and is made of a rigid material. The solar cells comprise a conducting material disposed on the substrate, a semiconductor junction disposed on the conducting material, and a transparent conducting material disposed on the semiconductor junction, which comprises a homojunction, a heterojunction, a hetero face junction, a buried homojunction, a positive-intrinsic-negative junction or a tandem junction. The semiconductor junction comprises an absorber layer and a junction partner layer, where the junction partner layer is disposed on the absorber layer. A filler layer is circumferentially disposed onto the transparent conductive layer and has a viscosity of less than 1x 106 cP. The outer shell is circumferentially disposed on the filler layer. The substrate and/or the outer shell is characterized by a circular cross-section, an ovoid cross-section, a triangular cross-section, a pentangular cross-section, a hexagonal cross-section, a cross-section having an arcuate portion or a cross-section having a curved portion. The rigid material has a Young's modulus of greater than or equal to 50 GPa. The filler layer has an index of refraction that is less than an index of refraction of the transparent conducting layer and greater than an index of refraction of the outer shell. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of converting light energy emanating from a light source into electric energy.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a cut-away view of a photovoltaic collection system.    Photovoltaic modules (32)    Concentrator (34)    First surface (36)    Second surface (38)    Outer shell (40)    Inner volume. (60)