Manufacture of solar cell module

A method for manufacturing a solar cell module by resin encapsulating a solar cell matrix comprising a plurality of electrically connected solar cell components between two panels, comprising the steps of:

• (i) forming a silicone coating film on one surface of each of two panels, excluding a peripheral region of the one surface,
• (ii) placing the solar cell matrix on the silicone coating film on one panel, such that in case the solar cell component is of monofacial light receiving type, the light receiving side may face upward, and in case the solar cell component is of bifacial light receiving type, either one light receiving side may face upward,
• (iii) providing a base seal member on the peripheral region of the silicone coating film-bearing surface of either one panel where the silicone coating film is not formed, said seal member comprising a butyl rubber-based thermoplastic sealing material and being thicker than the silicone coating film on the panel, such that a ratio of the volume (V2) of the base seal member to the volume (V1) of a seal portion, which is given as the total thickness of the silicone coating films on the panels multiplied by the width of the peripheral region of the surface of the base seal member-bearing panel where the silicone coating film is not formed, may range from 1.2/1 to 1.5/1, and then
• providing protrusive seal segments on the base seal member at four or more spaced-apart positions, said protrusive seal segments comprising a butyl rubber-based thermoplastic sealing material and having a height of 1 to 4 mm,
• (iv) mating the two panels together such that the silicone coating film-bearing surface of the panel on which the solar cell matrix is not placed may be opposed to the solar cell matrix, a seal member consisting of the base seal member and protrusive seal segments may abut against a peripheral region of the panel on which the seal member is not provided where the silicone coating film is not formed, and the solar cell matrix may be sandwiched between the silicone coating films,
• (v) evacuating a space in which the mated panels are placed to vacuum, compressing and heating the mated panels in vacuum for establishing a seal around the solar cell matrix.