TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The apparatus further comprises a sheet of flexible glass that is interposed between the solar cells and the first flexible top sheet of the second material, and between the solar cells and the bottom sheet of the first material. The apparatus and flexible solar panel, further includes: a layer of junction box tape, a laminate protective layer and a sealant layer that are interposed between the first flexible top sheet and the junction box; and an insulating film that is positioned underneath the interface between the laminate layer and the first flexible top sheet, where the insulating film is recessed within the side sealing region underneath the interface between the laminate layer and the first flexible top sheet. The sealed module chamber includes: a flexible bottom sheet of a first material and a first flexible top sheet of a second material that is transparent to visible light; and an encapsulant material coating the solar cells and filling the rest of at least one sealed module chamber. The terminal wires includes moisture resistant and insulating tubing that extends through the first side sealing region. The solar cells include group IBIIIAVIA thin film solar cells. In the apparatus, the junction box is positioned on an exterior surface of at least one sealed module chamber adjacent the first flexible bottom sheet or adjacent the second flexible top sheet. The first side sealing region is formed of an inner and an outer section of sealing tape and the terminal wires are routed through the inner section of sealing tape. The junction box is formed on an upper surface of the first side sealing region. The first flexible top sheet extends over all upper surface of the first side sealing region or over a first portion of the upper surface of the first side sealing region. The laminate layer is positioned over the remaining portion of the upper surface of the first side sealing region not covered by the first flexible top sheet. The sealant layer is positioned on the laminate layer and the junction box is positioned on the sealant layer. The front protective sheet is transparent to visible light and the bottom protective sheet is more moisture resistant than the front protective sheet. The edge moisture sealant wall comprises a solid region of moisture resistant material, and the terminal wires extend through the edge moisture sealant wall to the junction box so that the terminal wires are surrounded by the material of the edge moisture sealant wall from the interior of the sealed moisture chamber to an exterior surface upon which the junction box is mounted. The edge moisture sealant wall is formed of an inner and an outer section of sealing tape, where the terminal wires are routed through the inner section of sealing tape. In the solar panel, the junction box is positioned on an exterior surface of: the sealed module chamber adjacent the bottom protective sheet; or a first side sealing region of the sealed module chamber adjacent the front protective sheet.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The inorganic transparent moisture barrier layer includes: one of aluminum oxide or silicon oxide; and a metal film. The first flexible top sheet comprises a sheet of flexible glass. The front protective sheet comprises a sheet of flexible glass that also defines the moisture protection layer, where the moisture protection layer comprises a layer of flexible glass that is positioned within the sealed module chamber so as to be interposed between the front protective sheet and the solar cell circuit.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The first flexible top sheet includes a polymeric outer layer covering an inorganic transparent moisture barrier layer, where the polymeric outer layer includes one of TEDLAR (RTM: Polyvinyl fluoride), ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, fluoro ethylene propylene, poly vinylidene fluoride, poly ethylene terephtalate, perfluoro-alkyl vinyl ether, polyamide or poly methyl methacrylate. The flexible bottom sheet and the second flexible top sheet both includes polymeric outer layer covering an inorganic non-transparent moisture barrier layer TEDLAR (RTM: Polyvinyl fluoride). The flexible bottom sheet comprises a transparent layer.