NEXT Energy has announced a pilot installation of a BIPV façade with its OPV coatings
The installation demonstrates transparent, power-generating windows with 3.5% efficiency and 32% light transmission
The company aims to scale up production to 60×120-inch OPV glass with UL-certified safety standards
US-based technology company NEXT Energy Technologies has installed what it calls the world’s first large-format building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) façade using organic photovoltaic (OPV) coatings at its Santa Barbara headquarters.
NEXT says this installation offers a real-world demonstration of its aesthetic, energy-producing glass for observation by architects, developers, and industry stakeholders. It will generate power while maintaining transparency and design flexibility.
NEXT claims its OPV façade can generate enough electricity to offset 20% to 25% of energy consumption typical of commercial properties. These also help reduce cooling demand and ease the load on HVAC systems by capturing and converting the infrared light.
The installation announced comprises a total of 6 transparent PV windows, each measuring 40×60 inches and covering 100 sq. ft. of the company’s proprietary energy-generating glass. Each of these insulating glass units (IGUs) is covered with its proprietary OPV coating on the outboard lite, and runs cables through the framing system. It claims 32% visible light transmission and 3.5% vision glass power efficiency for the installation.
“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 NEXT’s CEO, Executive Chairman, and Co-Founder, Daniel Emmett.
NEXT says it fabricated the high-performance windows with Viracon’s low-e coated inboard lites and spacers. The framing system was designed and installed by Walters & Wolf as part of the façade integration.
“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,” said NEXT’s VP, Commercialization & Growth, Jonathan Hafemann.
NEXT says its proprietary organic semiconducting materials are abundantly found on the earth, hence low-cost, and can be processed using a high-speed, scalable, and low-energy process.
According to its technology roadmap, NEXT now aims to construct a full-scale production line for 60×120 inch large format glass with UL safety certification. In 2023, it raised $3 million in funding from the California Energy Commission (see CEC Funding For US Solar Tech Company).
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