With the increasing number of consumers in the solar industry new and better technologies are invented to make solar panels more efficient and effective. BIPV first appeared in the form of solar modules in 1970, on structures basically in remote areas where access to electricity was not possible. With technological advancement, BIPV transformed in appearance and Photovoltaic became a part of its building envelope. Manufacturers both old and new took up the idea of BIPV, and began production and distribution of Building Integrated Photovoltaic solar power solutions on national and international levels. Some building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers gained a notable rank in this field. This blog is dedicated to top BIPV manufacturers.
What is Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV)?
Photovoltaic materials and components used in place of traditional building materials are termed as Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV). Especially they are used in roofs, skylights, or facades, to provide solar power for the building. These materials are considered ancillary and at times it is a primary electric source and tends to be more advantageous over conventional building materials. Thin crystal and thin film are two basic commercial BIPV module technologies available.
1. Components involved in BIPV
1) Backup power supplies – diesel generators (optional – typically employed in stand-alone systems)
2) Charge controller – To regulate power input and output from the battery storage bank (in stand-alone systems)
3) Power conversion equipment – inverter to convert the DC output from solar panels to AC power compatible with the utility grid
4) Power storage system – comprised of utility grid in utility-interactive systems and/or, batteries in stand-alone systems
5) PV modules – opaque, thin-film or crystalline, semi-transparent, or transparent
6) Support and mounting hardware, wiring, and safety disconnects
2. Applications of BIIPV
1) Architectural integration: BIPV has more aesthetic appeal than conventional materials, adding architectural interest to the building.
2) Creation of shade: Different components in buildings are protected from unwanted heat, further providing shaded benefits.
3) Power generation: BIPV generates sufficient power effectively and efficiently for the building. For a rich energy harvest, different projects and technologies work in conjunction with BIPV.
4) Replacing conventional materials: BIPV replaces conventional and traditional building materials like faקade cladding, skylight glazing, and roof membranes. This further reduces costs and negative impact on the environment.
Top 10 Building Integrated Photovoltaics Manufacturers in the World
Let us now discover about the top BIPV manufacturers in the world.
1. First Solar
Founded in 1999, a leading solar technology company in America and a global provider of eco-efficient solar modules. The company ranks among the top 10 BIPV manufacturers in the world and is considered unique for being the only US-based manufacturer. The manufacturing unit in Ohio, USA, is the largest solar manufacturing unit in the Western Hemisphere. By 2025, the company is said to have an annual capacity of more than 20 gigawatts (GW) with a footprint span in Malaysia, India, Vietnam, and the United States.
Their modules set industry benchmarks for design, reliability, quality, sustainability, and durability. The company has the best environmental profile and uses less water, energy, and semiconductor material, and aims to achieve the Net Zero target by 2050. First Solar completed its RBA Validated Assessment Program audit achieving the highest possible rating of platinum status. The company is also a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA).
2. Hanwha Solar
Founded in 1982, Hanwha group is the 7th largest business enterprise in South Korea. Headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, the company is committed to sustainability through its environmentally friendly solutions. The company provides firm support to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations to achieve a more sustainable and better future for all by 2030.
The company is partnered with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and World Economic Forum (WEF).
3. Kyocera
Founded in 1959 with headquarters in Kyoto, Japan, the company is a Japanese multinational and has been a trailblazer in the solar energy industry since early 1970. In 1972, a large-scale integrated circuit company developed multi-layered ceramic packages for which it received the 18th Okochi Memorial Grand Production Prize. Kyocera supplies solar power generation systems on industrial, municipal, and residential scales worldwide. The company is renowned worldwide for the long-term reliability and excellent power output of its solar power harvesting systems. From modules to large-scale and turnkey installations, the company excels in all without any compromise with quality or service.
4. Panasonic Solar
This is among the building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers founded in 1918. The Panasonic group has its headquarters in Kadoma, Osaka in Japan. The company is aimed towards improving and enhancing society along with stepping forward towards a green and clean world. With an experience of more than 40 years in the solar industry, Panasonic named its initiatives Panasonic Green Impact. By 2050, the company aims to reduce emissions of CO2 by more than 300 million tonnes, which is equivalent to 1% of current global emissions.
Panasonic also aims at achieving net-zero carbon emissions for its all-operating companies by 2030. Next, it develops energy-efficient products and solutions for customers to encourage them to shift from fuel to green energy solutions.
5. REC Group
Founded in 1996 with headquarters in Norway, the REC Group is dedicated to empowering consumers with clean and affordable solar power. The company is an international, pioneering solar energy company with a Scandinavian heritage. The most trusted brand across the globe, REC Group is committed to innovation, and high quality, with a low carbon footprint in manufacturing solar materials and solar panels. The company has operational headquarters in Singapore along with regional hubs in Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America.
Up till now, the company has manufactured more than 46 million solar panels and powered more than 20.5 million houses. The overall capacity produced is more than 13.4 gigawatts.
Also Read: 6 Best Roof Material For Solar Panels
6. Sharp
Founded in 1912 in Tokyo, Japan, the company now had its headquarters in Sakai-ku Sakai Osaka Prefecture in Japan. It is a multinational company manufacturing electronic products along with solar power solutions worldwide. Sharp is considered a top company in terms of Solar Modules. Their leadership in c-Si technology is highly efficient but to make it cost-effective the company is shifting its focus to a-Si thin film.
Shipment of a-Si modules has started from its 1 GW capacity plants in Sakai and other than that the company also deals in solar panels.
7. Solar Frontier K K
Known as Solar Frontier Kabushiki Kaisha is a Japanese company providing development and sales of solar power systems along with operation management and maintenance of the same. Headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Japan is a subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. that strives to create new values while harmonizing with society and the environment. Among the building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers with their unique power solutions, the Idemitsu group contributes to creating a sustainable society in Japan and overseas.
As of May 2021, their power generation capacities are wind power (20 MW), biomass (50 MW), Geothermal (10 MW), Solar plants (215 MW), and LNG thermal plants (940 MW). With an experience of more than 40 years, the company is aimed at transforming the solar cell framework into a next-generation system integrator providing solutions for all areas of the life cycle.
8. Statkraft (Solarcentury)
Founded in 1998, the company is a global leader in solar power solutions. Solarcentury developed, constructed, owned, and operated utility-scale solar and smart technologies. The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Mexico, Kenya, and Spain have some of the largest utility-scale solar projects by Solarcentury with pioneer projects like the first solar bridge in the world at Blackfriars Station, Central London. With a 22-year of experience, the company worked to mainstream solar power and generated about 6 billion kWh of clean and green electricity, which saved more than 1.7 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2020, Statkraft acquired Solarcentury taking it further in its mission. Statkraft is the largest renewable energy generator in Europe. Working for more than a century in this industry, Statkraft is a global provider of renewable solutions. The company has 70 TWh environmentally friendly power generation capacities and 96% renewable energy.
9. SunPower
Established in 1985 with headquarters in Silicon Valley, SunPower provides residential and solar storage solutions. The company is an industry leader in solar sustainability and social responsibility and has exclusive access to the highest efficiency solar panels in the world featuring SunPower® Maxeon® cell technology.
The company believes that clean energy and storage solutions should be accessible to everyone, thus it designs all-in-one residential solutions that are backed by personal customer services and the most comprehensive warranty in the industry. SunPower is the only solar company based in the United States working for more than 30 years in this field.
Also See: Top 10 Solar Inverters in the World
10. Yingli Solar
Headquartered in Baoding, Hebel Province in China, the company has many bases in Tianjin, Hengshui, Baoding, and other cities. With 20 years of experience in the industry, Yingli Solar Co. Ltd. is a smart energy solution provider, integrated with PV technology, intelligent manufacturing, and the development of power plants. The company entered the PV industry in 1998 and within a year undertook the 1st national 3MW/Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cell and Application System Demonstration Project.
Among the building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers, Yingli Solar created the first polysilicon in China in 2003. In 2012, the company became the first in the world to obtain Product Carbon Footprint Certification by TלV Rhineland. In 2022, the company completed its restructuring and ranked among tier-1 PV module manufacturers of Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The company is on a mission to build a green supply chain on key technologies for the green recovery of decommissioned crystal silicon solar modules.
Also Read: Top 10 Rooftop Solar Companies in India
Top BIPV Manufacturers in the World
After knowing about the top 10 building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers in the world here is a list of some more top BIPV manufacturers in the world.
1. D2solar
Founded in 2010, it is an independent product development engineering Service Company. With headquarters in San Jose, California, the company specializes in photovoltaic technologies. D2 Solar helps innovative companies design, test, develop, and manufacture solar products. In this short period, the company uses a pilot production capacity of 2MW.
Also See: What is EPC in Solar?
2. Omnis Power USA Inc
Founded in 2010, the company is regarded as the most innovative and reliable manufacturer of solar products around the world. With an organized annual capacity of 3 GW Omnis Power provides solar solutions, services, and products for utility, residential, and commercial applications worldwide.
With headquarters in Kaunas, Lithuania, this American-based company has multiple production facilities in Asia along with global sales team in China, Europe, Singapore, and the United States. Company deals in PV modules, systems, and PV batteries. Here is the timeline of milestones.
- 2012- Assembly line in China (500 MW PV Module)
- 2015 – ETL and VDE approved PV modules
- 2016 – Ranked 1st TUV-certified Solar Kits Manufacturer in the world
- 2017 – Launched 1 GW Module Capacity in Vietnam
- 2019 – Foundation of European and Australian warehouse and office
- 2020 – Total capacity reached to 3 GW
- 2021 – Office and warehouse set up in America
3. Solaria
Founded in 2000, the company is among the early innovators of next-generation solar panels and PV systems. Solaria also became an early innovator and developer of shingled panels in 2014 and in late 2016 the company introduced PowerXT® Panels. These panels have a high aesthetic appeal but even more power production, about 20% more than conventional panels. With headquarters in Fremont, California, the company doubled its global production capacity with the introduction of PowerXT 370 Watt. In 2020 Solaria released 400-watt PowerXt and then in 2021 launched ultra-high PowerXt with 430 W for residential applications.
Also Read: What are Double Glass Solar Panels?
4. Sonali Solar USA
Among the building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers, Sonali Solar was founded in 1965. The company is committed to providing superior product and is a global company serving customers in markets in Asia Pacific, Europe, and United States. With headquarters in New Jersey, the company provides quality and innovation, with improved and efficient solar products and solar power solutions.
Also See: 8 Benefits of Cleaning Solar Panels
5. Danish Solar Energy Ltd
Founded in 1993, the company is a pioneer in photovoltaic solutions with its headquarters in Zealand, Denmark. Danish Solar Energy received the award for the most beautiful PV system since 2002 at Intersolar 2014. Their HEM PV Solar Modules are produced by a unique and fully automated production line. Their BIPV solutions have aesthetic designs. With more than 20 years of experience in global market Danish Solar Energy has provided more than 1000 solar solutions.
They delivered projects in Middle East, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Asia, Greenland, Scandinavia, South America, Germany, along with East & West Africa. The company is an official distributor for other solar components producers like Victron Energy, MorningStar, ABB, Fronius, Hoppecke, and Steca along with several others.
6. Jiaxing Feiya New Energy Co., Ltd.
This China-based solar power solution provider is a worldwide pioneer in this field. Founded in 2014 with headquarters in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province in China, the Jiaxing Feiya New Energy focuses on product design & development along with quality control and inspection. The company is a professional engaged in manufacturing and selling solar panels, BIPVs, solar power systems, inverters, and batteries.
The company provides solar solutions in all cities and provinces of China and exports to other countries like Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
Also Read: Top 30+ Renewable Energy Companies in India
7. Jumao Photonic (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
Founded in 2016, Xiamen Jumao New Energy Co., Ltd. is located in Xiamen, the most beautiful harbor city in China. Jumao Photonic (Xiamen) Co., Ltd invested and formed Jumao New Energy and the newly formed subsidiary manufactures solar solution products. The newly formed subsidiary, accompanied by experience and abundant resources from the parent company, provides BIPV, solar panels, along with other solar harvesting products in regions like Korea, China, Spain, Germany, and Japan.
Also See: What is Solar Gross Metering?
8. Metsolar
The company is a part of the MetGroup family and was founded in 2007. Among other building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers, this Europe-based Metsolar provides solar solutions for various applications like BIPV, smart city solutions, solar street lighting, Novel BIPV technologies, and more. The company is also known for its tailor-made solar solutions and has its headquarters in Vilnius, Lithuania. With more than 15 years of experience in the field, they are constantly innovating with the latest PV technologies as they work with the assistance of their PV research institute.
Also See: 3 Leading Types Of Solar PV System
9. Polysolar Limited
Founded in 2007 with an aim to manufacture next-level photovoltaic materials, Polysolar is now a global pioneer in providing solar power solutions. With improved and increased research, the company developed transparent PV glazing materials to integrate the same in a variety of different solutions that include facades, canopies, carports, and other solar applications. The BIPV solutions include forecourt canopies, transport hubs, cladding, and several other applications. Polysolar provides solar solutions for domestic, commercial, and industrial levels.
10. Saule Technologies
Founded in 2013 when a Ph.D. student Olga Malinkiewicz at the University of Valencia invented a revolutionary method of coating perovskites on flexible foils to make them work like solar cells. Eventually, the potential behind her invention was noticed and in 2014 Olga teamed up with Artur Kupczunas and Piotr Krych, and together they laid the foundation of Saule Technologies. The company provides solutions for IoT (internet-of-things) that are solar smart devices with internet connectivity along with E-mobility, BAPV, and BIPV.
11. HD Fotovoltaica
This Argentina-based solar power solution manufacturer develops, optimizes, and distributes Solar Sheets, their BIPV product. HD Fotovoltaica is the first manufacturer to develop solar efficient-sheet metal in the market. Their BIPV product is robust, unique, lightweight, and simple to install. The company offers solar solutions for Agrovoltaic (Cattle raising, Silos, and Stockpiler), roof sheets (electric car chargers, sheds or houses, service stations, parking lots, and big shopping malls), and Wall/facade (residential, business, companies, public and private buildings, clinics, and hospitals).
12. S-Energy Co., Ltd.
Founded in 2001, the company is engaged in manufacturing solar panel modules like standard modules, specialized modules used in EPC, and BIPV modules-Energy Co. also provides project financing and project development along with PV systems on lease. With headquarters in Seongnam, Gyeonggi in South Korea, other services provided by them are installation, inspection, and maintenance of solar power systems. All these score them the position in top building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers.
13. Shandong Macrolink Technology
Founded in 1990, the company is a subsidiary of Macrolink group and has its headquarters in Liaocheng, Shandong province in China. They specialize in the production and application of solar power solutions, products, and construction glasses. Shandong Macrolink Technology has a total of 12 BIPV thin-film solar curtain wall production lines with a maximum capacity of 600 MW. The company is among the top 500 Chinese enterprises that specialize in BIPV and crystalline silicon PV modules. Another subsidiary of the group is Macrolink Intelligent Photovoltaic, a premium provider of several solar power products and services.
14. SoliTek Cells
Founded in 2009 when engineers of the BOD group along with scientific partners started researching ways to improve the efficiency of solar cells. This led to the establishment of the company Soli Tek Cells along with a factory in Lithuania, Vilnius in 2013. Very soon the company became the leading provider of solar power solutions in the Scandinavian region. The company manufactures bifacial glass-glass solar panels (framed and frameless), integrated solar panels, glass foil solar panels (framed), and carports.
In 2021, a joint venture agreement was signed between IMECAR Elektronik (Turkey), Avesta Battery & Energy Engineering (ABEE) (Belgium), along with SoliTek (Lithuania) which will be operational in summer 2023. Company exports solar solutions to Finland, Germany, Norway, and Sweden along with other regions.
15. SpolarPV Technology Co., Ltd.
Founded in 2010, the company specializes in designing, manufacturing, and marketing solar cells, solar power systems, and solar modules. With headquarters in Jiangsu Province, Nanjing in China, SpolarPV Technology Co., Ltd has an annual production capacity of 800 MW. The company was the first to produce BIPV modules in China along with other innovations like 158.75 polycrystalline and monocrystalline panel modules, 166 mm cell solar modules, bifacial dual glass modules, and 182 mm cell modules along with other products.
The company established a European market distribution center and a global technological center in Switzerland along with multiple branches and offices in Sweden, Netherlands, Brazil, Afghanistan, Germany, Poland, Spain, and other locations.
Also See: 5 Rooftop Solar Panels Benefits
Further, it is the table about some more building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers around the world.
| Name of Manufacturer | Country | Founded (year) | Products |
| Atone New Energy Limited | China | 2009 | Solar Panels (Mono, Poly, Amorphous), BIPV Modules, Solar Battery (Deep Cycle, Shallow Cycle, Lithium), LED (Bulbs, Tube, Display & Light) , Solar Charge Controllers, Inverter, & other Solar Products |
| Sun2Earth Solar | India | 2014 | Solar panels, modules, and BIPV series |
| Sunage S.A. | Switzerland | 2007 | BIPV Roof (Suncol Tile), BIPV Faקade (Suncol Faקade), and BAPV (Suncol BAPV, Glass Glass, & Glass Backsheet) |
| SwissINSO | Switzerland | 2006 | BIPV) and thermal solar energy solutions |
| Tulipps B.V. | Netherlands | 2010 | standard module frame, thin-film cells, and BIPV |
| U-Solar New Energy Co., Ltd. | India | 2010 | Solar
Power Plants (Rooftop & Ground Mounted), Storage Solutions (Battery Based & Innovative Integrated) |
| Wegalux S.p.A. | Italy | 2005 | BIPV (crystalline), Roof Tiles and Shingles |
| Wuhan Rixin Technology Co., Ltd. | China | 2001 | Solar Panels (Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline Amorphous silicon panel
Custom panel), BIPV (Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline laminated glass, & Amorphous silicon hollow glass), Solar Light (street, garden, & insect-killing), and Solar System (on & off-grid) |
| Wuxi Sunket New Energy Technology Co | China | 2007 | Solar Cells, BIPV, Solar Panels, and Solar Energy Systems |
| Zytech Solar | Spain | 2005 | Photovoltaic Solar (Modules & Kits), Thermal Solar Heating, Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), and (BIPV) |
So, these were some of the top building integrated photovoltaics manufacturers in the world. Though China has the most manufacturers, other countries are not too far from catching up to the pace. Top BIPV manufacturers in the world aim at improving their present technologies and with better innovation they seem to achieve net zero in this decade. So, are you planning to get BIPV for your house or office? Try out some of the above-mentioned manufacturers in your region.
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