TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: At least the first semiconductor layer of cadmium telluride is formed by a printing method. Many mutually parallelly arranged photovoltaic cells are formed within the photovoltaic device on the single flexible metallic support layer. Many photovoltaic cells are formed in a series circuit on the single flexible metallic support layer. The mutually parallelly extending intermediate gaps are formed between the photovoltaic cells, which are connected in series and arranged parallel to each other, and are respectively arranged within the first contact layer, the first semiconductor layer of cadmium telluride, the second semiconductor layer of cadmium sulfide and the light-transmissive second contact layer. A UV light transmissive- and water-impermeable flexible barrier layer is arranged adjacent to the electrically insulating layer. The electrically insulating covering layer is made of fluoropolymers or glass. The UV-light transmissive and water impermeable flexible barrier layer is made of a thermoplastic polyolefin. The metallic support layer, the first electrically insulating layer, the first contact layer, the first semiconductor layer of cadmium telluride, the second semiconductor layer of cadmium sulfide, the light-transmissive second contact layer, light transmissive and electrically insulating covering layer, and the water impermeable flexible barrier layer comprises a layered composite with a total thickness of 150-650 mu m. The layered composite exhibits a bending radius of 100-1000 mm in both directions. A sealing edge for the lateral sealing of the photovoltaic cells is formed between the first electrically insulating layer and the water impermeable barrier layer. A contact strip is respectively arranged adjacent and parallel to the first and last photovoltaic cell. The contact strips are connectable via a bus bar with a connection box integrated in the photovoltaic device. The connection boxes are formed connectable with other photovoltaic devices by means of connecting lines and electrical connecting plug. The contact strips, the bus bar and the connection box are arranged on side of the photovoltaic device facing the sun. Preferred Method: The flexible layers subsequently on the respective coating operation are subjected to a heat treatment in a tunnel furnace. The first contact layer, the first semiconductor layer of cadmium telluride, the second semiconductor layer of cadmium sulfide and the light-transmissive second contact layer are separated to form the parallelly-extending formed intermediate gaps by laser cutting or other cutting method.