NOVELTY - Forming an integrated molded concentrator involves providing photovoltaic regions (310) including backside surface, thickness of material, and frontside surface; coupling photovoltaic regions to first mold member (350) including first bounding surface; forming a cavity (360) formed by the frontside and first bounding surface; transferring optical material (370) coupled to frontside surface, into cavity to fill the cavity; curing optical material to cause formation of a concentrator element (200) coupled to frontside surface; and releasing photovoltaic region and optical material.    USE - For forming an integrated molded concentrator and photovoltaic cells (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method produces photovoltaic cells with lowered costs and increased efficiencies; provides a process for making solar elements and modules where the process makes use of conventional process technologies without substantial modifications; and provides an improved solar cell that is less costly and easier to handle than conventional solar cells. The resulting solar cells have less silicon per area (e.g. less than or equal to 80%, or less than or equal to 50%) than conventional solar cells.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Formation of an integrated molded concentrator onto at least one photovoltaic region (310) involves providing photovoltaic regions including backside surface, thickness of material, and frontside surface; coupling photovoltaic regions to a first mold member (350) including a first bounding surface; forming a cavity (360) bounded at least by the frontside surface and the first bounding surface; transferring an optical material (370) into the cavity to fill the cavity, where the optical material is coupled to the frontside surface; curing the optical material to cause formation of a concentrator element (200) coupled to the frontside surface; and releasing the photovoltaic region and optical material. The method further involves providing a second mold member including a second bounding surface, and is adapted to operatively couple with the first mold member, where the volume is further bounded by the second bounding surface. The curing step involves subjecting the thickness of the optical material to a process that transforms the optical material from a thermal plastic state to a thermal set state. The releasing the photovoltaic region and the optical material includes use of a vacuum. The method further involves providing for a sheet of material and bonding the sheet of material to the optical material. The optical material is molding compound in the fluid state, where the molding compound comprises precursors to an optically transparent material. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a system for manufacturing an integrated concentrator photovoltaic cell, comprising a first substrate member adapted to mechanically engage a photovoltaic element; a second substrate member adapted to form a volume with the first substrate member, the volume bounded in part by the photovoltaic element, the first substrate member, and the second substrate member; an injection component adapted to transfer an optical material into the volume to fill the volume whereby the optical material in the volume becomes coupled to a frontside surface of the photovoltaic element; a curing component adapted to cure the optical material in the volume to form in part a concentrator element coupled to the frontside surface of the photovoltaic element; and a release component adapted to release in part the photovoltaic element and the optical material from the first substrate member and the second substrate member.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figures show method for manufacturing an integrated concentrator photovoltaic element using one mold member.    Concentrator element (200)    Encapsulant layer (305)    Photovoltaic element (310)    Conducting element (320)    First mold member (350)    Cavity (360)    Optical material (370)