Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) is shifting from pilot projects to large-scale reality. A small group of manufacturers is driving this transformation by offering architectural products—façade glass, cladding systems, thin-film foils, and solar glazing—that perform as both building components and energy generators. These firms are more than module makers: they deliver integrated solutions with certification, design support, and real projects on the ground.
Here are six companies with proven BIPV portfolios that demonstrate how solar is becoming part of the building envelope.
Avancis — CIGS thin-film façades (SKALA)
Avancis is a pioneer in copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaics, producing frameless modules under its SKALA brand. Unlike crystalline silicon, CIGS allows Avancis to offer uniform, matte colour options—black, grey, or earth tones—that blend with architectural façades. SKALA modules are designed for curtain walls and cladding, combining energy generation with durability and design flexibility.
The company has delivered multiple reference projects, including the Westspitze development in Tübingen (634 modules, 659 m², 82 kWp, ~50 MWh/year) and the Helmholtz Berlin Living Lab, where 360 SKALA modules are tested under real façade conditions. These installations confirm Avancis’s role as a European leader in thin-film BIPV façades.
Mitrex — BIPV cladding and solar murals
Mitrex positions itself as a BIPV cladding and systems provider, offering panels that mimic stone, metal, or even murals while producing electricity. Their eFacade product line integrates into rainscreen cladding systems, making solar an easy choice in both new construction and retrofit projects. By combining performance with aesthetics, Mitrex expands the conversation around what solar architecture can achieve.
The flagship SunRise Residential project in Edmonton features ~3,200 m² of Mitrex cladding, producing ~267 kW. Recognised by Guinness World Records as the largest solar mural in the world, the project offsets ~150 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Mitrex’s ability to merge sustainability, art, and cost-effective construction makes it one of the most visible BIPV integrators in North America.
Onyx Solar — Transparent and coloured PV glass
Onyx Solar leads the market in photovoltaic architectural glass, offering semi-transparent and coloured PV glazing for curtain walls, skylights, and even walkable floors. Their products replace standard glazing units, providing daylight control, thermal performance, and on-site generation in one package. Both crystalline and amorphous silicon options allow flexibility in design and cost.
High-profile projects include the Dubai Frame, with 2,500 semi-transparent glass units (~38 kWp) and the Miami Heat Stadium skylights in Florida. By delivering BIPV in landmark buildings across the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas, Onyx Solar demonstrates the scalability of PV glass as a mainstream construction product.
AGC Glass Europe — Mainstreaming solar glass with SunEwat
As one of the world’s largest flat-glass producers, AGC Glass Europe has the scale to make BIPV accessible through established supply chains. Its SunEwat range integrates PV cells directly into double-glazed units, available in both vision glass and spandrel glass formats. For specifiers, this means BIPV can be ordered and installed much like conventional glazing.
AGC has supplied SunEwat modules for office and institutional buildings across Europe, often in collaboration with façade contractors. By pairing decades of glass know-how with PV integration, AGC lowers risk for developers and accelerates adoption. Its strategy is to normalize solar glass as a standard architectural product, not a specialty item.
ClearVue Technologies (Australia) — Optically clear solar glazing
ClearVue Technologies offers transparent solar glazing that maintains visible light transmission while redirecting UV/IR wavelengths to edge-mounted PV cells. This makes it ideal for façades, atria, and roof terraces where daylight is a priority. In 2025, ClearVue announced its first high-rise project at Sydney’s City Tattersalls Club redevelopment, supplying solar glazing for the rooftop terrace on levels 44–50.
ClearVue also reported a Hong Kong government trial showing strong economic performance: the system delivered thermal benefits and an estimated 2.6-year payback. With additional projects in modular housing and greenhouses, ClearVue is building a portfolio that demonstrates solar glazing’s potential across multiple sectors.
Heliatek — Lightweight organic solar films
Heliatek develops HeliaSol, a flexible, ultra-light organic photovoltaic (OPV) film suited for curved or weight-restricted surfaces. OPV’s lower efficiency is offset by easy installation, light weight, and the ability to deploy solar where conventional modules can’t go.
The Port of Barcelona (584 films, 29.5 kWp) and a La Rochelle school rooftop (500 m², 22.5 kWp, ~23.8 MWh/year) are flagship projects showing OPV’s versatility. Heliatek also completed the world’s largest OPV installation on a warehouse in Duisburg, Germany, proving scalability. Their success lies in opening new niches for BIPV, from corrugated rooftops to curved façades.
Key Takeaway
Avancis, Mitrex, Onyx Solar, AGC Glass Europe, ClearVue Technologies, and Heliatek illustrate the diversity of BIPV today: CIGS thin films, cladding systems, solar glass, and organic foils. Each has delivered real projects in recent years, showing that BIPV is no longer experimental—it’s a viable, scalable solution shaping the next generation of buildings.
