NOVELTY - A flexible solar panel comprises: solar cells (10), where solar cells are covered on surface by multi-layer film having layer of first material and layer of second material, where the multi-layer film contains randomly located pinholes or gaps at interfaces between layers that define long tortuous pathways that slow water penetration through the multi-layer film, where the particles have sized of 1 nm to 10 microns which are contained in the multi-layer film to block tortuous pathways through the film.    USE - As a flexible solar panel, for converting sunlight into electricity.    ADVANTAGE - The multi-layer film has a water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) sufficiently low so that there is no loss in solar cell conversion efficiency when the cell is exposed for 1000 hours at 85 degrees C and 85% relative humidity; and has a WVTR such that the conversion efficiency of a cell with the multi-layer film has a conversion efficiency of at least 25 (preferably at least 50)% better than an unprotected cell after both are exposed for 1000 hours at 85 degrees C and 85% relative humidity. The solar panel provides improved environmental protection.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A flexible solar panel comprises: several solar cells (10), where the solar cells are covered on at least one surface by a multi-layer film having at least one layer of a first material and at least one layer of a second material, where the multi-layer film contains randomly located pinholes or gaps at interfaces between layers that define long tortuous pathways that slow water penetration through the multi-layer film, where the particles have sized of 1 nm to 10 microns which are contained in the multi-layer film to block tortuous pathways through the film, where at least a portion of each of the particles is in contact with one of the layers of the first material or one of the layers of the second material, where all of the tortuous pathways are blocked by-at least one of the particles.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows close-up cross-sectional view of the hybrid organic/inorganic protective layer of the panel.    Solar cell (10)    Protective film (100)    Organic layer (102)    Inorganic layer (104)    Path (108)