TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Method: The electrically coupling comprises using a ribbon conductor embedded within the first organic material to connect to an electric contact disposed along an edge of the cover plate and using a ribbon conductor passing through the solar device and the substrate to an electrical contact disposed at rear side of the substrate. Preferred Components:The cover plate comprises a transparent polymer, a hardened glass having a transparent region over main areas of the solar devices and an opaque region over the peripheral edge regions of the solar devices. The solar devices are attached to the rear surface via a transparent polymer including ethylene vinyl acetate and polyvinyl butyral, where each solar device comprises a peripheral edge region sealed by the polymeric sealant material. The ribbon conductor connects the solar devices electrically (in series or parallel) and is disposed between the rear surface and the solar devices to connect an electric contact disposed near an edge of the cover plate. The ribbon conductor passes through the solar devices to connect an electric contact disposed rear side of the substrates.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The thin-film photovoltaic layer comprises a chalcopyrite compound semiconductor material comprising copper indium diselenide, copper indium disulfide, copper indium gallium diselenide, or copper indium disulfide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The first organic material is a transparent polymer comprising ethylene vinyl acetate or polyvinyl butyral.The second organic material comprises a polymeric sealant material comprising butyl rubber, urethane, polyurethane material, polyisobutylene material, epoxide material, polysulfamide material or cyanoacrylate.Each of the solar devices comprises a dimension of 65 cm by 165 cm including many photovoltaic cells where each has stripe shaped pattern of 5 or 6 mm by 160 cm.