NOVELTY - A photovoltaic module comprises a front substrate (1000); a photovoltaic structure (4000) attached to the front substrate, where the photovoltaic structure comprises at least one photovoltaic cell; a back substrate (2000), where the back substrate is spaced apart from the photovoltaic structure; a structural component; an external seal assembly; solid interlayer perimeter; external seal assembly; a membrane; and at least one retention tape strip.    USE - As a photovoltaic module (claimed) useful for converting solar energy into electricity.    ADVANTAGE - The photovoltaic module has improved durability to weathering environments, increased safety if broken and reduced manufacturing costs; is a clean source of renewable energy in a global marketplace dominated by traditional fossil-fuel technologies, such as coal-fired; has improved reliability, performance and safety; and is easy to fabricate.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A photovoltaic module comprises a front substrate (1000); a photovoltaic structure (4000) attached to the front substrate, where the photovoltaic structure comprises at least one photovoltaic cell; a back substrate (2000), where the back substrate is spaced apart from the photovoltaic structure; a structural component, where the structural component is located between the back substrate and the photovoltaic structure; an external seal assembly; solid interlayer perimeter; external seal assembly; a membrane; and at least one retention tape strip. The structural component comprises ribbing. The ribbing comprises polyisobutylene and compliant material. The structural component comprises foam selected from porous foam, corrugated foam, and embossed foam; solid interlayer; and foam and ribbing. The solid interlayer comprises high density foam. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for making a photovoltaic module involving forming a photovoltaic structure on a front substrate, where the photovoltaic structure comprises at least one photovoltaic cell; positioning a structural component between the photovoltaic structure and a back substrate; and connecting the back substrate with the front substrate using a seal, where the structural component is configured to provide distributed thermal conduction from the front substrate to the back substrate.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows view of basic module exploded.    Front substrate (1000)    Back substrate (2000)    Photovoltaic structure (4000)    Buss assembly connection (5200)    Buss assembly insulator (5300)