A photovoltaic module comprises electrically interconnected and mutually
spaced photovoltaic cells that are encapsulated by a light-transmitting
encapsulant between a light-transparent front cover and a back cover,
with the back cover sheet being an ionomer/nylon alloy embossed with
V-shaped grooves running in at least two directions and coated with a
light reflecting medium so as to provide light-reflecting facets that are
aligned with the spaces between adjacent cells and oriented so as to
reflect light falling in those spaces back toward said transparent front
cover for further internal reflection onto the solar cells, whereby
substantially all of the reflected light will be internally reflected
from said cover sheet back to the photovoltaic cells, thereby increasing
the current output of the module. The internal reflector improves power
output by as much as 67%.