Opaque PV Glass
Spandrels, opaque façade zones and architectural cladding applications.
SOLNEX BIPV Glass
Photovoltaic glass.
Designed into the building.
For commercial façades, entrances and roof glazing. Compare the complete BIPV assembly with the conventional material already in the brief.
Architectural images are illustrative concepts, not completed SOLNEX projects or evidence of a particular glass product. Appearance, performance and suitability depend on the selected product and project.
BIPV Glass Families
Material pathways selected around the architectural and technical brief.
Semi-transparent PV Glass
Applications where daylight and energy generation need to be balanced.
Vision / Feature Solar Glass
Selected architectural glazing applications requiring higher transparency.
Canopy & Roof Solar Glass
Atriums, canopies, skylights and overhead glazing applications.
Product availability, glass build-up, optical performance and electrical characteristics are confirmed against the project brief.
Final glass build-up, electrical characteristics, structural requirements and certification are project-specific.
Understand the material
Solar glass is not ordinary glazing.
A dual-purpose building element
BIPV glass contains photovoltaic material and also performs a building function. A glazed façade is not BIPV simply because the building has rooftop PV. The chosen assembly must resolve both roles.
Vision glass and opaque zones
Assess daylight and views separately from non-vision façade zones. Do not assume every glazed panel can generate electricity or that a concept image represents the transparency of an available product.
Compare three options
Compare conventional glazing, suitable BIPV glazing and roof-mounted PV against the same project brief. For planned replacement glass, include the material cost actually displaced—not the cost of an entire façade that still needs framing and installation.
Technical background: IEA PVPS / BIPV definitions ↗
Application first
Choose the building element.
Selected façade zones
Start with finish, façade rhythm and the construction behind the glass. Add daylight and outlook where views matter.
Canopies & entrances
Coordinate glazing, weather protection, structure, drainage and electrical access.
Roof glazing & atria
Balance daylight, solar gain, overhead safety, maintenance and generation.
Material selection
Specify the complete glass assembly.
Appearance & daylight
Define colour, reflection, pattern, view and measured visible-light transmission. Review a physical sample.
Glass & building performance
Record layers, thickness, interlayers, cavity, dimensions, weight, U-value, solar heat gain and required safety performance.
Electrical characteristics
Request rated output, test conditions, voltage, current, connection details and inverter configuration.
Evidence & service life
Match the product reference to datasheets and reports. Record revisions, warranty, availability and maintenance access.
Integration
Resolve the interfaces early.
System connections
From generation to building use.
- BIPV glassDC generation
- String inverterConverts DC to AC
- Main switchboardAC connection point
- Building loadsElectricity used on site
At the switchboard: ↔ Grid
Design notes
Glass connections and DC collection routes require product-specific coordination. Metering, protection and isolation are omitted. Backup requires a separately designed arrangement. This is not a construction drawing.
Façade team
Resolve glass, framing, seals, structure and replacement access.
Electrical team
Resolve cable routes, isolation, protection, inverter location, metering and connection.
Owner & project team
Agree access, document ownership, warranty boundaries and coordination.
Feasibility
Not every surface is the right surface.
Start with solar access
Model orientation and shading on the actual façade; do not copy a roof estimate across every elevation.
Compare against the baseline
For new or replacement elements, compare with the material already planned. Count only costs actually displaced.
Allow for the full lifecycle
Include coordination, electrical works, cleaning, access, replacement and energy-use assumptions.
Before detailed design
Bring a useful brief.
- Location, elevations, orientation and surrounding shading.
- Vision / non-vision zones, desired appearance and daylight requirements.
- Project stage, façade system and target dimensions.
- Building performance brief and known electrical constraints.
Discuss material options with SOLNEX. Product availability, samples, lead times and the proposed supply scope are confirmed for the enquiry before specification.