NEXT Energy Installs First-Ever Large Format Building Integrated Organic Photovoltaic (BIPV) Façade

NEXT Energy Installs First-Ever Large Format Building Integrated Organic Photovoltaic (BIPV) Façade
Photo source
www.nextenergytech.com

Date: 29 July 2025

This milestone proves the potential of the technology: it is sustainable, scalable, attractive, and ready to transform the built environment.

NEXT Energy Technologies, Inc. has accomplished another significant milestone toward commercialization of NEXT’s BIPV solution, with the first installation of a commercial facade Powered by NEXT transparent OPV coatings at its headquarters in Santa Barbara, California.

The groundbreaking installation features six transparent photovoltaic (PV) windows, each measuring 40 by 60 inches, for a total of 100 square feet of NEXT’s proprietary energy-generating glass. This marks the world’s first installation of its kind: a Building Integrated PV (BIPV) facade featuring organic photovoltaic (OPV) coatings developed by NEXT.

Each insulating glass unit (IGU) incorporates NEXT’s OPV coating on the outboard lite and runs cables through the framing system. The high-performance windows were fabricated with Low-e coated inboard lites and spacers supplied by Viracon. Walters & Wolf designed, supplied, and installed the framing system as part of the facade integration, showcasing NEXT’s seamless integration into the window fabrication supply chain.

“The successful scaling of NEXT’s OPV technology, both on glass and in facades, takes NEXT and the industry closer to a future of sustainable building design,” said Daniel Emmett, CEO, Executive Chairman, and Co-Founder of NEXT. “We’re incredibly proud of the quality of the coating, the seamless installation, and the power generation performance we’re already seeing from this first facade installation.”

Installed at the company’s Santa Barbara headquarters, the windows now offer architects, developers, and industry stakeholders a real-world demonstration of NEXT’s aesthetic, energy-producing glass in action. Visitors can see the seamless integration of solar technology into a standard commercial facade and observe firsthand how the system generates power while maintaining transparency and design flexibility.

“This is the first of many,” added Jonathan Hafemann, NEXT’s VP, Commercialization & Growth. “We’re thrilled to share this tangible demonstration of our vision for energy-generating facades, and to invite the industry to imagine what’s possible when windows do more than just manage heat gain and U-Value.”

NEXT’s transparent organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology enables commercial windows to generate solar energy, turning building facades into on-site power sources. This innovation supports greater energy efficiency, generates clean power at the point of use, enhances building resilience, and helps improve grid efficiency.

When integrated into a building, a NEXT OPV facade can generate enough electricity to offset approximately 20–25% of the energy consumption typical of commercial properties while leveraging the existing infrastructure of a commercial facade. By capturing and converting infrared light, the windows also help lower indoor cooling demands, easing the load on HVAC systems.

Track our commercialization progress and explore NEXT’s OPV solution and partnership opportunities at https://nextenergytech.com.

600450 NEXT Energy Installs First-Ever Large Format Building Integrated Organic Photovoltaic (BIPV) Façade glassonweb.com

Others also read

Şişecam will be participating in the RE+ fair, taking place on September 8–11, 2025, in Las Vegas, where it will present the latest advancements in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems.
Saint-Gobain Glass has released a new edition of its Reference Book, showcasing inspiring projects from around the world and highlighting the versatility of its glass solutions.
In just two weeks, on September 11, 2025, the Auditorium Santa Margherita in Venice will host the most remarkable edition yet of Performance-Based Façade Design (PBFD).
700 Santana Row brings a new dimension to San Jose’s acclaimed Santana Row district by offering a seamless blend of modern design, sustainability and vibrant public spaces.
Light, structure, and community come together in the new extension of Kungsbacka’s Sports Hall—featuring OKALUX EVO for a bright, energy-efficient design.
BGT supplied advanced glass solutions for Newark Liberty International Airport’s new Terminal A, supporting the project’s bold architectural vision with high-performance, energy-efficient glazing systems.

Add new comment

From industry

NEWS RELATED PRODUCTS

Guardian Glass Europe
Guardian Glass Europe
Guardian Glass Europe