Back-contact architecture removes front metallization, enabling both visual uniformity and a higher active area for BIPV
Module-level gains of over 20% and system-level improvements of ~15% highlight the impact in space-constrained applications
Adoption is expected to be driven by new BIPV designs, as legacy formats face integration and certification constraints
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) continues to face a fundamental constraint. Modules must align with architectural design while maintaining strong energy output. Conventional cell architectures struggle to balance these requirements. Back-contact (BC) technology is emerging as a practical pathway to address this gap, particularly in applications where surface area and aesthetics are critical.
At the TaiyangNews High in Efficiency, Low In Silver: Back Contact Technology From Europe conference, Skirmantė Baležentienė, CEO of Metsolar, discussed the role of BC technology in advancing BIPV applications. She described it as a solution to long-standing challenges related to aesthetics, limited installation area, and architectural integration.
Metsolar’s portfolio reflects the breadth of BIPV applications under development. These include roof tiles, metal-sheet-integrated PV systems, façades, skylights based on insulated glass units, and agrivoltaics. The company also develops infrastructure-integrated products, such as walkable PV tiles, barriers, and benches, as well as vehicle-integrated and portable PV systems.
The company’s approach focuses on adapting PV systems to existing construction materials rather than modifying building designs. This is enabled through flexible manufacturing, says Baležentienė, enabling the company to produce modules in different geometries, colors, transparency levels, and surface finishes. These modules are available across the full RAL color range, including options with colored interlayers or glass.
The technology base remains crystalline silicon, with configurations including glass-glass, glass-backsheet, and lightweight modules. However, conventional cell architectures introduce limitations in BIPV applications. Front-side metallization used in these technologies, including busbars and fingers, disrupts visual uniformity, and any attempts to mask these features add process complexity and reduce efficiency.
BC technology addresses this constraint by relocating all electrical contacts to the rear side of the cell, eliminating front-side metallization and resulting in a uniform surface. The absence of front contacts also increases the effective active area, improving light absorption and power density. These characteristics are particularly relevant for applications such as façades, roof tiles, and skylights.
Baležentienė presented comparative data, highlighting the difference in performance. In a configuration using M10 cells, a PERC module delivered 84 W, while an IBC module reached 101.6 W under similar conditions. Electrical parameters, including short-circuit current and operating current, also improved. Overall, this corresponds to an efficiency increase of about 20.6%. Aesthetic treatments applied to conventional cells can further reduce efficiency by around 6%, says Baležentienė.
Similar gains are observed at the system level. In the Laumė roof system, which is designed to replicate metal roofing sheets and is installed directly onto wooden beams, the available active area is constrained. In this case, a PERC-based system delivered 4.6 kW, while a BC-based system reached 5.3 kW. This represents an increase of about 15% with the same footprint.
BC technology also supports compact system design in mobile applications. In vehicle-integrated and portable PV systems, particularly for defense use, higher power density enables the same output from a smaller surface area. This results in lighter and more compact systems, with performance gains of around 15% in the example discussed.
Transparent BIPV applications introduce additional constraints. Skylights and agrivoltaic systems can reach transparency levels of around 70%, significantly reducing active area. Under these conditions, efficiency per unit area becomes critical. BC technology improves output from the remaining active regions, supporting overall system performance.
From a manufacturing perspective, BC technology simplifies parts of the process. It removes the need for front-side masking and related treatments. While additional steps may still be required for module integration, the overall process flow can be streamlined, says Baležentienė. This is particularly relevant for customized production environments such as BIPV.
The industry is showing increasing interest in BC-based solutions. However, its adoption is not uniform across all applications. Existing products with fixed dimensions face limitations due to certification and format constraints. As a result, uptake is expected to be faster in new product developments than in legacy systems.
Looking ahead, Metsolar plans to expand the use of BC technology across its portfolio. A growing share of new BIPV applications is expected to adopt BC architecture, particularly where both design and performance requirements are critical.
Metsolar operates as a custom manufacturer of BIPV and integrated PV (IPV) systems. With engineering and manufacturing based in Lithuania, the company primarily serves Europe and has a presence in North America and Australia. In 2025, it produced more than 40,000 m² of custom BIPV modules. One of its larger projects includes a roof installation of about 7,000 m² in Copenhagen.
The full metSolar presentation titled Beyond Efficiency: How Back Contact Technology Enables BIPV is available on the TaiyangNews YouTube channel here.
At the same time, module efficiency levels continue to rise across the industry. Commercial modules have now reached the 25% efficiency mark, increasing the relevance of high-efficiency architectures such as BC in applications where space and design constraints limit installation area (see TOP SOLAR MODULES Listing – April 2026).
