NOVELTY - Packaging solar cell module involves forming thin film photovoltaic cells on surface region of a substrate member; operably coupling two connector members having upper surface region and second thickness (510), to the cells; coupling second substrate member overlying laminating material; laminating substrate members and laminating material; and maintaining a spatial gap occupied by portion of laminating material between upper surface region and second substrate member, using two spacer elements (502, 506) to maintain planarity between the substrate members during the lamination.    USE - For packaging solar cell module (claimed), i.e. photovoltaic cells.    ADVANTAGE - The spatial gap (preferably having a thickness of 1 mil) prevents the first connector member and the second connector member, and/or the second substrate member from cracking during the laminating process. By providing a thermal process which activates the semiconductor metal chalcogenide thin film materials for the photovoltaic cells in a controlled environment, the method improves carrier lifetime characteristics for the semiconductor metal chalcogenide thin film materials.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Packaging solar cell module involves providing a first substrate member having a surface region; forming thin film photovoltaic cells overlying the surface region of the first substrate member, and having a first thickness, a first width and a first length; operably coupling a first connector member and a second connector member to each of the photovoltaic cells, where the first and second connector member both have an upper surface region and a second thickness (510); providing first and second spacer element (502, 506) overlying a first and second portion (504, 508) of the surface region of the respective member, where the first and second spacer element has a third thickness; providing a laminating material overlying the photovoltaic cells, the first and second spacer element, the first and the second connector member, and exposed regions of the first member; coupling a second substrate member overlying the laminating material; processing the first substrate member, the laminating material, and the second substrate member using a lamination process to form a photovoltaic module; and maintaining a spatial gap occupied by a portion of the laminating material between the upper surface region and the second substrate member, using the first spacer element and the second spacer element to maintain planarity between the first substrate member and the second substrate member during the lamination process. The method further involves an ultraviolet curing process to cure the laminating material; and coupling one of the first printed circuit board and the second printed circuit board to a junction box. The first and second spacer elements are provided using printed circuit boards. The thin film photovoltaic cells are fabricated using semiconductor metal chalcogenide material or semiconductor material comprising Group IV species. The first and second connector members are ribbon connectors. The lamination process involves: joining the second substrate member to the first substrate using the laminating material overlying the first substrate member; clamping the second substrate member to the first substrate member; and providing a thermal process to couple the second substrate member to the first substrate member. The controlled environment is provided using nitrogen, an inert gas, or a vacuum.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a method for packaging thin film photovoltaic cells into a solar cell module.    First spacer element (502)    First portion (504)    Second spacer element (506)    Second portion (508)    Second thickness (510)