TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The step of finishing the unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile comprises: removing the unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile from the compression mold and allowing the unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile to cool; removing flashing from the edges of the unfinished photovoltaic roofing tile; and applying a curvature to the polymeric carrier tile. The photovoltaic element is inserted into the compression mold so that its bottom surface is disposed adjacent to the top surface of the polymeric tile preform, and where during the compression molding the bottom surface of the photovoltaic element is fixed to the top surface of the polymeric carrier tile. In the method, during the compression molding step, the photovoltaic element is at least partially embedded in the top surface of the polymeric carrier tile. The adhesive layer is inserted into the compression mold between: the bottom surface of the photovoltaic element and the top or bottom surface of the polymeric carrier tile; or the inactive area of the top surface of the photovoltaic element and the bottom surface of the polymeric carrier tile. The adhesive layer is joined to the photovoltaic element and/or the polymeric carrier tile before it is inserted into the compression mold. The cover element is inserted into the compression mold adjacent to the top surface of the photovoltaic element, and where during the compression molding step, the cover element is fixed to at least part of the top surface of the polymeric carrier tile, and seals the photovoltaic element to the top surface of the polymeric carrier tile. In the method: the top surface of the photovoltaic element has an inactive area, and the polymeric tile preform has an opening formed on it, with which the active area of the top surface of the photovoltaic element is substantially aligned; the photovoltaic element is inserted into the compression mold so that the inactive area of its top surface is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of the polymeric tile preform and the active area of its top surface is substantially aligned with the opening in the polymeric tile preform; during the compression molding step the inactive area of the top surface of the photovoltaic element is fixed to the bottom surface of the polymeric carrier tile; the photovoltaic roofing tile further comprises a polymeric overlay having an opening formed on it with which the active area of the top surface of the photovoltaic element is substantially aligned; the photovoltaic element is inserted into the compression mold so that the inactive area of its top surface is disposed adjacent to the bottom surface of a polymeric overlay perform having an opening formed on it, and so that its bottom surface is disposed adjacent to the top surface of the polymeric tile preform; and during the compression molding the inactive area of the top surface of the photovoltaic element is affixed to the bottom surface of the polymeric overlay, and the bottom surface of the photovoltaic element is fixed to the top surface of the polymeric carrier tile. The cover element is inserted into the compression mold between the top surface of the photovoltaic element and the bottom surface of the polymeric tile preform, and where during the compression molding step, the cover element is fixed to at least part of the bottom surface of the polymeric carrier tile. The first adhesive layer is inserted into the compression mold between the bottom surface of the polymeric overlay and the inactive area of the top surface of the photovoltaic element, and a second adhesive layer is inserted into the compression mold between the bottom surface of the photovoltaic element and the top surface of the polymeric carrier. The cover element is inserted into the compression mold: adjacent to the top surface of the photovoltaic element, and during the compression molding step, the cover element is fixed to at least part of the top surface of the polymeric overlay; or between the top surface of the photovoltaic element and the bottom surface of the polymeric overlay, and during the compression molding step, the cover element is fixed to at least part of the bottom surface of the polymeric overlay. The surface of the polymeric tile preform adjacent to which the photovoltaic element is disposed is in a softened state when the photovoltaic element is disposed adjacent to it and during the compression molding step. The photovoltaic element has an adhesive layer at the surface to be fixed to the polymeric carrier tile. The compression molding step is performed under vacuum. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.