NEXT Energy Technologies, Inc. has reached a major milestone by installing the world’s first large-format commercial building-integrated organic photovoltaic (BIPV) facade at their headquarters in Santa Barbara, California. This installation highlights the potential of NEXT’s transparent OPV technology as a sustainable, scalable, and aesthetically appealing solution ready to transform building design and energy generation.
The installation features six transparent photovoltaic windows, each measuring 40 by 60 inches, covering 100 square feet of energy-producing glass embedded with NEXT’s proprietary OPV coatings. This system integrates into insulated glass units (IGUs), with the OPV film on the outer glass layer. Low-e glass and spacers, provided by Viracon, improve thermal efficiency. The framing system, engineered and installed by Walters & Wolf, ensures smooth facade integration, showing how OPV technology can fit standard architectural glass manufacturing and installation.
Daniel Emmett, CEO and Co-Founder of NEXT, said this milestone brings the industry closer to a future where buildings both consume and produce clean energy. “The coating quality, installation ease, and power generation exceed expectations,” he said.
The installation serves as a real-world showcase for architects, developers, and building owners to see how solar energy can be generated on-site without compromising design or transparency. NEXT’s VP of Commercialization, Jonathan Hafemann, said, “This is just the beginning. We invite industry leaders to imagine windows actively contributing to a building’s energy needs.” 
NEXT’s OPV technology harvests infrared light, often wasted by traditional solar panels, generating electricity while reducing indoor cooling needs and lowering HVAC energy use. Scaled across commercial buildings, these facades can supply 20–25% of a building’s energy consumption, supporting sustainability goals and enhancing resilience.
This project demonstrates the viability of OPV BIPV facades and sets a new benchmark for integrating renewable energy into the built environment, paving the way for greener, smarter buildings worldwide.
Source: NEXT Energy Technologies, Inc. with additional information added by Glass Balkan
