Patent ID: 8178776

Claim:
A photovoltaic module comprising: a solar cell having a light receiving surface allowing light to enter therein, and a back surface provided on the opposite side of the light receiving surface; a light receiving surface side supporting member provided at the light receiving surface side of the solar cell; a back surface side supporting member provided at the back surface side of the solar cell; and a sealing material for sealing the solar cell between the light receiving surface side supporting member and the back surface side supporting member; wherein the sealing material includes a first region that is in contact with the light receiving surface, and a second region that is in contact with the back surface, the sealing material of the first region and the second region being of the same sealing material to which a cross-linking agent of a same type and amount is added, and a degree of cross-linkage of the second region is smaller than a degree of cross-linkage of the first region.