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“BIPV manufacturer” covers companies that have almost nothing in common. One makes 20%-transparent glass for a landmark in Dubai, another makes 2.8 kg/m² glass-free panels for weak factory roofs, a third sells a whole roof to US homeowners. Ranking them on one scale would be meaningless, so this list groups the ten leading BIPV manufacturers by what they actually make, and shows a verifiable project or certification for each.

Short answer: the leading BIPV manufacturers worldwide in 2026 are Onyx Solar (custom PV glass, 500+ projects), LONGi (Hi ROOF and BRIGHT facades), CNBM (large-format CdTe glass), AGC (SunEwat PV glass), Avancis (CIGS facades), Mitrex (solar cladding), Heliatek (organic PV film), Tesla (Solar Roof), Sunovation (custom glass-glass modules) and Sunman (glass-free lightweight panels). Pick by building element first, then by manufacturer.

Last updated: October 2026. Each entry cites a project, product specification or certificate published by the manufacturer, a certifier or the trade press. We do not rank by revenue, because most of these companies do not report BIPV sales separately.

Who makes what

ManufacturerHQTechnologyBest forReference point
Onyx SolarSpaina-Si and c-Si PV glassSkylights, curtain walls, walkable floorsDubai Frame, 38 kWp
LONGiChinaMono c-SiIndustrial roofs, colored facadesShenzhen World Exhibition, 4.74 MW
CNBM (Chengdu)ChinaCdTe thin filmLarge curtain walls17.7% full-size panel, 2024
AGCJapan / BelgiumPV laminated glassFacades needing glazing-grade glassSunEwat range
AvancisGermanyCIGSBlack or colored rainscreensWestspitze Tübingen, 82 kWp
MitrexCanadac-Si claddingRainscreen cladding, retrofitsSunRise Edmonton, 267 kW
HeliatekGermanyOrganic PV filmCurved and low-load surfacesUL 61730 certified, 2025
TeslaUSASolar roof tilesUS homes25-year roof warranty
SunovationGermanyCustom glass-glassCanopies, bridges, heritage sitesMakkah North Bridges, 1.3 MWp
SunmanChina / AustraliaGlass-free c-SiWeak or curved roofs2.8 kg/m², 1 GW+ shipped

Profiles

1. Onyx Solar

Onyx Solar, based in Ávila, Spain, makes photovoltaic glass to architectural order, with more than 500 projects in about 60 countries. Its best-known job is the Dubai Frame: roughly 1,200 m² of amorphous silicon glass in about 2,500 panels, 20% transparent, generating 38 kWp. Onyx also reports fire testing to BS 8414-2 for facade systems, which matters in markets that tightened cladding rules after high-rise fires. Expect long lead times and project pricing; this is engineered glass, not stock modules.

2. LONGi

LONGi brings mainstream module efficiency to BIPV. Its Hi ROOF S metal-roof product reaches up to 660 W and 24.6% efficiency, and the LONGi BRIGHT range offers colored facade modules. The LONGi Shenzhen World Exhibition project installed 4.74 MW of BRIGHT modules. For factory and warehouse roofs where output per square metre matters most, LONGi is the benchmark.

3. CNBM (Chengdu)

China National Building Material’s Chengdu plant produced its first 1.92 m² CdTe panel in 2017 and started a 100 MW line in April 2018. In June 2024 a full-size panel reached 339.91 W and 17.7% efficiency in TÜV NORD testing. CNBM reports more than 300 BIPV projects and exports to Germany and Italy. CdTe’s uniform dark appearance and good performance in heat suit large curtain walls.

4. AGC

AGC, the Japanese glass group with its European base in Belgium, sells PV glass under the SunEwat name in four lines: Vision (semi-transparent), Origin, Colour and Design. The advantage is that the product comes from a glazing manufacturer, which helps when facade engineers want glass specifications, tempering and lamination they already know.

5. Avancis

Avancis makes CIGS thin-film modules in Germany, sold for facades under the SKALA name. The Westspitze office building in Tübingen uses 634 SKALA modules totalling 82 kWp as a dark rainscreen. CIGS looks uniform up close, which is why architects choose it over visible crystalline cells.

6. Mitrex

Toronto-based Mitrex makes solar cladding panels that replace conventional rainscreen materials. Its SunRise project in Edmonton covers about 3,200 m² with 267 kW and earned a Guinness World Record for its solar facade. Mitrex also lists Middle East work, including the SEE Institute in Dubai and the Jeddah Oceanarium.

7. Heliatek

Heliatek makes HeliaSol, a flexible organic PV film that is glued to surfaces. In March 2025 TÜV Rheinland issued it a UL 61730 certificate (US 72407937), opening North American sales. At the Port of Barcelona, HeliaSol supplies 29.5 kWp. Organic PV has lower efficiency than silicon, so it makes sense where weight, curvature or load limits rule out modules.

8. Tesla

Tesla Solar Roof V3 is the best-known residential BIPV product in the US: a full roof of glass solar tiles and matching inactive tiles. Tesla’s US Solar Roof warranty (version effective May 2026) covers product, weatherization and module power for 25 years, with module output guaranteed at 95% after five years, declining 0.5% a year after that. Availability is mainly limited to the US.

9. Sunovation

Sunovation, from Germany, builds custom glass-glass modules in unusual sizes and shapes. Its largest showcase is the North Bridges of the Holy Mosque in Makkah: 1.3 MWp over 8,981 m² of shading canopies, installed by PCT of Dubai. Choose Sunovation when the module has to fit the structure, not the other way round.

10. Sunman

Sunman’s eArc panels replace glass with a polymer composite, weighing 2.8 kg/m² at 2 mm thick. They carry IEC 61215, IEC 61730 and UL 61730 certification, and Sunman reports more than 1 GW shipped to over 40 countries. Its eRoof product is the BIPV version. Use it on industrial roofs that cannot carry conventional glass modules.

Choose by building element

  • Skylights and atria: semi-transparent glass (Onyx Solar, AGC Vision, CNBM). Specify transparency and solar heat gain together.
  • Opaque facades: CIGS (Avancis), CdTe (CNBM), colored crystalline (LONGi BRIGHT) or cladding systems (Mitrex).
  • Pitched residential roofs: solar tiles (Tesla) where available.
  • Metal industrial roofs: high-efficiency roof modules (LONGi Hi ROOF) or lightweight panels (Sunman) if load is limited.
  • Canopies and bespoke shapes: custom glass-glass (Sunovation, Onyx Solar).
  • Curved or very light surfaces: organic PV film (Heliatek).

Whatever the BIPV skin, the DC side still needs certified balance-of-system parts. ShineTong supplies PV cables and connectors, DC isolators, combiner boxes and DC surge protection for facade and roof arrays. Regional rankings: China BIPV suppliers and Middle East BIPV suppliers. For connector basics, see what an MC4 connector is.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between BIPV and BAPV?

BIPV (building-integrated PV) replaces a building material such as glazing, cladding or roofing and must meet building codes for that element. BAPV (building-applied PV) is mounted on top of an existing roof or wall and adds no building function.

Which BIPV technology is most efficient?

Crystalline silicon. LONGi’s Hi ROOF S reaches 24.6%. CdTe glass is around 17 to 18% at full size, and organic PV films are lower still, but each fits building uses that silicon modules cannot.

Is BIPV glass fire rated?

It depends on the product and system. Some suppliers, such as Onyx Solar, report facade fire testing to BS 8414-2. Ask for the test report covering the full wall build-up, not just the glass.

Who makes the largest BIPV facades?

Among the projects cited here, Mitrex’s SunRise in Edmonton (about 3,200 m², 267 kW) holds a Guinness World Record for its solar facade, and LONGi’s Shenzhen World Exhibition project used 4.74 MW of BRIGHT modules.

Is BIPV more expensive than standard solar panels?

Per watt, yes, usually much more. The comparison that matters is against the building material it replaces, such as glass curtain wall or premium cladding, plus the energy it generates over the building’s life.

Sources