NOVELTY - Forming photovoltaic module involves forming laminate having transparent (T), support (S) and photovoltaic (V) layers and interior encapsulant (E); inserting sealing plug in support aperture (A); passing two electrical leads through sealing plug; sealing laminate in air-tight manner; heating sealing plug and encapsulant within laminate; and withdrawing air from between layers of laminate before sealing plug and encapsulant are raised to their sealing temperatures so that pressure compresses layers of laminate, plug contacts against electrical leads, and encapsulant contacts sealing plug.    USE - For fabricating photovoltaic module (Claimed) for forming photovoltaic cell, which is useful for converting incident radiation into electricity.    ADVANTAGE - The method for fabricating photovoltaic module includes improved method for sealing electrical leads that bring electrical energy generated by photovoltaic layer outward from module for utilization, which presents significant challenge in forming photovoltaic module. The method uses sealing plug that is formed of material having predetermined sealing temperature above which material of plug is able to flow into adhesive contact with electrical lead passing through it. Thus plug, when raised to its sealing temperature adhesively bonds to leads. Leads emanating from lateral sides of laminate are sealed using stem that collapses in presence of pressure differential upon heating to softening temperature. The method also uses encapsulant material having predetermined sealing temperature above which it flows into adhesive contact with photovoltaic layer, transparent layer and/or protective layer. In addition, encapsulant adhesively contacts with inner end region of stem, to form sealed laminated structure in which at least portion of electrical lead is enclosed in sealed relationship by encapsulant and material of collapsible region of stem. Thus, sealed laminated structure is formed in which leads are completely sealed from point within laminate to outer ends of sockets.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Fabricating photovoltaic module involves: forming laminate having periphery comprising transparent layer (T) and support layer (S), where each layer has exterior surface and interior surface, interior surface of transparent and support layers defines interior volume between them, and support layer of laminate has exhaust aperture (A); photovoltaic layer (V) disposed in interior volume, with first and second electrical leads extending from photovoltaic layer; and encapsulant material (E) disposed in interior volume, and positioned at least between photovoltaic layer and either interior surface of transparent and/or support layer, where encapsulant material has predetermined sealing temperature above which encapsulant material is able to flow into adhesive contact with photovoltaic layer, transparent layer and/or protective layer; inserting sealing plug into access aperture, where sealing plug is formed of material having predetermined sealing temperature above which material of plug is able to flow into adhesive contact with electrical lead passing through it; passing each of first and second electrical leads through sealing plug; sealing laminate in air-tight manner; using heating source, and heating sealing plug and encapsulant within laminate; and before sealing plug and encapsulant are raised to their respective sealing temperatures, withdrawing air from between layers of laminate so that atmospheric pressure compresses layers of laminate, and as temperature of sealing plug is raised past its sealing temperature, plug adhesively contacts against electrical leads extending through it, and in addition, as temperature of encapsulant is raised past its sealing temperature, encapsulant adhesively contacts sealing plug, and in addition adhesively contacts against photovoltaic layer and adjacent interior surface of transparent layer and/or protective layer, to form sealed laminated structure. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for photovoltaic module comprising transparent and support layer, each having exterior surface and interior surface, one of transparent or support layers has exhaust aperture in it; photovoltaic layer disposed between interior surfaces of transparent and support layer; encapsulant material disposed between photovoltaic and either interior surface of transparent and/or support layer; first and second electrical leads extending from photovoltaic layer; and sealing plug disposed within access aperture, first and second electrical leads extend through sealing plug, sealing plug completely seals access aperture and electrical leads passing through plug, and sealing plug is in melded contact with encapsulant material.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows exploded view during encapsulation of photovoltaic laminate.    Aperture (A)    Encapsulant material (E)    Support layer (S)    Transparent layer (T)    Photovoltaic layer (V)