Photovoltaic modules with improved reliability

A photovoltaic module comprising:

• a first protective sheet;
• a second protective sheet;
• an edge sealant disposed between the first and second protective sheets and continuously along an edge, the edge sealant, the first protective sheet and the second protective sheet thereby defining a moisture resistant protective shell;
• at least one solar cell, having a front light receiving side, a back substrate side, and a bus bar that is disposed on the front light receiving side to create at least two front light receiving side portions, each front light receiving side portion on opposite sides of the bus bar, the at least solar cell being disposed within the moisture resistant protective shell;
• a support material that at least partially encapsulates the at least one solar cell on both the front light receiving side and the back substrate side of the solar cell;
• and
• a divider sealant disposed between the first and second protective sheets and within the moisture resistant protective shell, wherein the divider sealant divides the moisture resistant protective shell into at least two moisture resistant sealed sections, each of the two front light receiving side portions being disposed in a different one of the two moisture resistant sealed sections, such that the divider sealant is aligned with the bus bar of the at least one solar cell and wherein the edge sealant and the divider sealant are resistive to moisture transmission, and wherein the edge sealant and the divider sealant are made from material and constructed so that a water vapor transmission rate through each of the edge sealant and the divider sealant is less than 0.001 g/m2/day.