In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of sub-modules. Each sub-module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells spatially arranged as an array, each cell having first and second conductive layers sandwiching an active layer therebetween. The cells in each sub-module are electrically connected to each other in series. Each sub-module further includes positive and negative electrodes formed on the second conductive layers of the first and last cells, respectively, in a respective sub-module. The positive electrode of each sub-module is electrically connected to each other and the negative electrode of each sub-module is electrically connected to each other such that the plurality of sub-modules is electrically connected in parallel. The plurality of sub-modules is spatially arranged next to each other as an array such that at least one sub-module is spatially separated from its immediately next sub-module by a gap.