NOVELTY - A photovoltaic module comprises; front transparency (202); potting material (206) deposited on at least portion of front transparency; electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells (220) applied to potting material; and topcoat (204) deposited and cured on at least portion of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells.    USE - As photovoltaic module, and for preparing photovoltaic module (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The photovoltaic module includes protective coatings useful for encapsulating photovoltaic cells; and replaces heavy, labor intensive and/or time consuming ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/glass encapsulation process with lightweight protective system that has suitable cell lifetimes by minimizing moisture ingress and/or corrosion. Thus module addresses disadvantages of vacuum lamination processes in production of photovoltaic modules. The module eliminates lamination of preformed backsheets and back side potting material sheets to photovoltaic cells and front transparencies. The preformed backsheets and back side potting materials may be replaced with protective coating systems comprising applied coating(s) that provide comparable or superior encapsulation of photovoltaic cells and electrical interconnections. In addition, protective coating systems provide advantages to photovoltaic modules, such as good durability, moisture barrier, and abrasion resistance. The replacement of traditional potting material can eliminate need for vacuum lamination such that production of photovoltaic module is free of vacuum lamination operations. Also topcoat formation is free of vacuum lamination.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A photovoltaic module comprises; front transparency (202); potting material (206) deposited on at least portion of front transparency; electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells (220) applied to potting material; and topcoat (204) deposited and cured on at least portion of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells. The topcoat comprises inorganic particles. The inorganic particles of topcoat comprise particulate mineral composition, and have average particle size of 1-100 microns. The potting material is laminated to front transparency and electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells, potting material comprises fluid encapsulant, or potting material comprises ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer film positioned between front transparency and electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells. The photovoltaic cells comprise crystalline silicon wafers. The topcoat comprises outer surface of photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module further comprises primer (208) positioned between topcoat and electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells. The primer comprises inorganic particles. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) method for preparing the photovoltaic module involving: applying potting material on at least portion of front transparency; applying photovoltaic cells onto potting material where cells are electrically interconnected; laminating potting material and photovoltaic cells; applying topcoat on at least portion of photovoltaic cells; and curing topcoat;    (2) method for preparing photovoltaic module involving: applying clear liquid encapsulant on at least portion of front transparency; applying photovoltaic cells and electrical interconnections onto potting material, where cells are electrically interconnected; applying topcoat on at least portion of photovoltaic cells and electrical interconnections; and curing topcoat; and    (3) photovoltaic module including liquid encapsulant prepared in accordance with the method.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows schematic diagram illustrating production of photovoltaic module by application of two-layer protective coating system comprising primer coating and top coating.    Front transparency (202)    Protective coating system/topcoat (204)    Potting material (206)    Primer (208)    Protective coating system of photovoltaic module (210)    photovoltaic cells (220)