TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The apparatus (A1) further comprises: a sheet covering a bottom surface of the solar cell panel and the sealing member; and a buffer sheet disposed between the protective substrate and the solar cell panel, where the buffer sheet and the sealing member are formed by using different materials. In the solar cell apparatus (A1), the sealing member: surrounds the solar cell panel; includes an insertion part disposed between the solar cell panel and the protective substrate; and covers a region where the lateral side of the solar cell panel meets a bottom surface of the solar cell panel. The protective substrate of the apparatus (A1) comprises: a central region corresponding to the solar cell panel; and an outer region around the central region, where the sealing member directly makes contact with the outer region. The solar cell panel of the apparatus (A1) comprises: first and second lateral sides opposite to each other, and a third lateral side extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, where the sealing member covers an edge region where the first lateral side, the third lateral side and a bottom surface of the solar cell panel are met with each other; or a lateral side at which the sealing member is disposed, and an inclined surface extending from the lateral side to a bottom surface of the solar cell panel and inclined with respect to the lateral side. The solar cell apparatus (A2) further comprises: a buffer sheet between the protective substrate and the solar cell panel, where the buffer sheet includes ethylene vinylacetate; a protective sheet covering the bottom surface and the inclined surface of the solar cell panel; and a buffer member covering a lateral side of the protective substrate and the protective sheet. In the apparatus (A2): the sealing member directly makes contact with the lateral side of the solar cell panel; the sealing member directly makes contact with the bottom surface of the protective substrate; a part of the sealing member is inserted between the protective substrate and the solar cell panel; and the protective sheet covers a lateral side of the protective substrate. The sealing member of the apparatus (A2) comprises: a horizontal surface (420) directly making contact with the bottom surface of the protective substrate; a vertical surface directly making contact with the lateral side of the solar cell panel; and an inclined surface extending from the horizontal surface to the vertical surface. In the solar cell apparatus (A3), the sealing member: surrounds the solar cell panel; has moisture permeability lower than moisture permeability of the buffer sheet; and the buffer sheet has light transmittance higher than light transmittance of the sealing member.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The sealing member of the apparatus (A2) includes polypropylene, polyvinylchloride or butyl rubber resin.