ADVANCED-BIPV · Project

Solar Glass That Replaces Building Windows and Generates Electricity

constructionMarket-readyTRL 8

Imagine if the glass windows on a skyscraper could generate electricity while still letting daylight through — that's exactly what this project built. A Spanish company called ONYX Solar developed next-generation glass panels that are both see-through (over 50% light passes through) and photovoltaic, meaning they produce power from sunlight. They created extra-large formats and high-strength versions so architects can use them as canopies, curtain walls, and facades without compromising on looks or safety. The goal was to make solar glass that architects actually want to specify, not a clunky add-on.

By the numbers

50%

Light transmission through transparent PV glass panes

4.3%

Target global BIPV market share by 2020

ONYX Solar market share at project start

$823 million

Global BIPV market size in 2014

$2.7 billion

Projected global BIPV market size by 2019

30%

Annual BIPV market growth rate

Months to market-ready products

The business problem

What needed solving

Buildings consume roughly 40% of energy in Europe, and new regulations are pushing toward near-zero energy construction. Architects and developers need building materials that generate renewable energy without sacrificing the glass-facade aesthetics that define modern commercial architecture. Conventional solar panels are bulky, opaque, and limited to rooftops — they don't solve the problem for high-rise glass buildings.

The solution

What was built

ONYX Solar built two physical demos: a curtain-wall system using transparent thin-film PV glass with 50% light transmission, and a large-format high-resistance canopy using crystalline PV technology. They also developed extra-large format (XL) BIPV glazing units designed for standard architectural installation.

Audience

Who needs this

Commercial property developers building energy-efficient office towersFacade and curtain-wall system integrators looking for solar-generating glassArchitecture firms designing net-zero or LEED/BREEAM-certified buildingsAirport and transit authorities needing solar canopies over large public spacesGlass manufacturers wanting to add BIPV products to their catalog through licensing

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Commercial Real Estate & Property Development

enterprise

Target: Property developers building Class A office towers or mixed-use developments

If you are a commercial property developer trying to meet near-zero energy building requirements — this project developed transparent photovoltaic glass with over 50% light transmission that replaces conventional curtain-wall glazing. Instead of adding rooftop solar panels as an afterthought, your building envelope itself generates electricity while maintaining the glass-tower aesthetic tenants expect. ONYX Solar built working curtain-wall demos proving the concept at architectural scale.

Architectural Glass & Facade Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Glazing manufacturers and facade system integrators

If you are a facade manufacturer looking to differentiate in a market heading toward $2.7 billion in BIPV by 2019 — this project created extra-large format, high-mechanical-resistance PV glazing units that integrate into standard curtain-wall and canopy systems. The technology was developed to be market-ready, meaning it fits existing installation workflows. A licensing or co-manufacturing deal could add a solar product line without building PV capability from scratch.

Green Building Certification & Sustainability Consulting

any

Target: Sustainability consultants and LEED/BREEAM assessors

If you are a green building consultant helping clients achieve energy performance certifications — this project delivered transparent PV glass that contributes to on-site renewable generation while preserving daylighting scores. The canopy and curtain-wall demos prove the technology works in real architectural configurations. This gives you a concrete product to recommend when clients need to close the gap between their energy model and certification thresholds.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What does this technology cost compared to conventional architectural glass?

The project data does not include specific pricing per square meter. However, ONYX Solar was already selling BIPV glass commercially before this project (holding 1% of the global BIPV market), so pricing would follow established commercial models. Contact ONYX Solar directly for current pricing on their next-generation product lines.

Can this scale to full commercial buildings, not just demos?

Yes. The project specifically developed extra-large format (XL) glazing units and high-mechanical-resistance versions designed for real building applications. Two demos were completed: a curtain-wall system with 50% light transmission and a large-format canopy. ONYX Solar's stated goal was reaching 4.3% of the global BIPV market by 2020.

What is the IP and licensing situation?

ONYX Solar Energy SL is the sole partner and full owner of all project IP. As an existing commercial company, they likely hold patents on the manufacturing processes. Any licensing or partnership discussions would go directly through ONYX Solar in Spain.

Does this meet EU building energy regulations?

The project objective explicitly states alignment with EU Energy Performance of Building Directives. As buildings move toward near-zero energy requirements, BIPV glass that generates electricity while serving as the building envelope directly contributes to regulatory compliance.

How transparent is this glass really — will it look like a solar panel?

The thin-film transparent panes achieve over 50% light transmission, which is comparable to tinted architectural glass commonly used in commercial buildings. This is specifically designed to look like premium building glass, not like a solar panel bolted to a window.

What was the project timeline and current status?

The project ran from April 2015 to March 2017 and is now closed. Products were designed to be market-ready within 24 months. ONYX Solar continues to operate commercially, so the technology developed here should be available in their current product catalog.

Is there independent validation of performance?

The project produced demo reports with technical details and performance data for both a curtain-wall configuration and a canopy configuration. Based on available project data, these demos serve as the primary validation evidence. The SME-2 funding instrument also requires rigorous EU evaluation.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a single-company project: ONYX Solar Energy SL from Spain, an SME that was already commercially active in the BIPV market with a 1% global share. The 100% industry composition with zero academic partners signals this was a product development and commercialization effort, not basic research. Funded under the SME-2 instrument (designed for close-to-market SMEs), this means the technology was already proven and the project focused on scaling new product lines. For a potential business partner, this is a good sign — you're dealing with a real company that makes and sells products, not a university lab.

ONYX SOLAR ENERGY SLCoordinator · ES

How to reach the team

ONYX Solar Energy SL is a Spanish SME specializing in BIPV glass — contact their commercial department directly or reach out via SciTransfer for a facilitated introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See ONYX SOLAR ENERGY SL profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore BIPV glass for your next building project or discuss a technology partnership? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to the ONYX Solar team with a tailored briefing on how their products fit your specific needs.

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