NOVELTY - Fabricating a photovoltaic module comprises: (a) forming a laminate comprising: a transparent layer and a support layer; a photovoltaic layer disposed between the interior surfaces of the transparent layer and the support layer; and an encapsulant material; (b) engaging the laminate completely about its periphery with an air-tight fixture; (c) heating the encapsulant and the insert; and (d) before the encapsulant and the insert are raised to their sealing temperatures, (i) withdrawing air from between the layers of the laminate, and (ii) actuating the force generating member.    USE - The method is useful for fabricating photovoltaic module (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The material used for the encapsulate exhibits an energy absorptivity response that optimizes the effective heating rate of the material(s) being heated.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Fabricating a photovoltaic module comprises: (a) forming a laminate comprising: a transparent layer and a support layer, each of the transparent layer and the support layers having an exterior surface, an interior surface and an edge surface; a photovoltaic layer disposed between the interior surfaces of the transparent layer and the support layer; and an encapsulant material disposed between the photovoltaic layer and either the interior surface of the transparent layer or the interior surface of the support layer, or both, the encapsulant material having a predetermined sealing temperature above which the encapsulant is able to flow into adhesive contact with the photovoltaic layer and the transparent layer and/or the protective layer; the laminate having a periphery; (b) engaging the laminate completely about its periphery with an air-tight fixture, the fixture having an insert, the insert extending completely about the periphery of the laminate, the insert having an interior and an exterior surface thereon, the insert being formed of a material having a predetermined sealing temperature above which the insert is able to flow into adhesive contact with an adjacent layer; the fixture further having a force generating member, the force generating member being disposed adjacent to the exterior surface of the insert; (c) using a heating source, heating the encapsulant and the insert; and (d) before the encapsulant and the insert are raised to their sealing temperatures, (i) withdrawing air from between the layers of the laminate so that atmospheric pressure compresses the layers of the laminate, and (ii) actuating the force generating member to bring the same into contact with the exterior surface of the insert, where, as the temperature of the encapsulant and the insert are raised past their sealing temperatures, the encapsulant adhesively contacts against the photovoltaic layer and the adjacent interior surface of the transparent layer and/or the protective layer, and the force generating acts against the insert to force the interior surface of the insert into adhesive contact at least against the edge of the photovoltaic layer and at least the edges of the transparent and protective layers, thus to form a sealed composite structure.