NOVELTY - The module has a semiconductor photovoltaic structure (4000) attached to a front substrate (1000) and comprising a photovoltaic cell. A back substrate (2000) is spaced apart from the photovoltaic structure. A structural component is located between the back substrate and the photovoltaic structure. The structural component comprises ribbing, which is arrayed periodically over the photovoltaic structure. The structural component provides distributed thermal conduction between the front substrate and the back substrate.    USE - Cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide photovoltaic module for converting renewable solar energy into electricity through photovoltaic effect, utilized in a global marketplace by coal-fired and oil-fired power plants.    ADVANTAGE - The module allows reinforcing scrim sheets, mesh fibers or the ribbing to be added between the front substrate and the back substrate so as to increase reliability, performance and safety of the module, while minimizing cost, weight and fabrication complexity. The module allows a membrane to improve safety by preventing large shards of glass from being ejected from the module if breakage occurs. The module improves structural integrity and assists in retaining pieces of the module if breakage occurs so as to prevent loss of photovoltaic structure pieces coated with heavy-metal-containing materials such as cadmium from Cadmium telluride films. The module provides protection of back electrode metallization during module manufacturing and from potential contact with the back substrate under mechanical loading. The module provides reinforcement of buss bar assembly with buss tape adhesive junctions, thus preventing buss-junctions from de-bonding. The module provides an additional barrier against moisture vapor permeation to the photovoltaic structure and provides additional electrical insulation. The module provides a desiccating medium to absorb moisture permeating through a seal between the front substrate and the back substrate and provides added structural robustness to the module. The module provides added thermal conduction through an interior of the module to reduce module temperature.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The ribbing is made of Polyisobutylene, compliant material and foam such as porous foam, corrugated foam and embossed foam. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a method for making a photovoltaic module.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows an exploded perspective view of a cadmium telluride/cadmium sulfide photovoltaic module.    Front substrate (1000)    Back substrate (2000)    External seal assembly (3000)    Semiconductor photovoltaic structure (4000)    Buss assembly connection (5200)