- Three routes, ten suppliers
- Crystalline makers: highest output per square metre
- 1. LONGi
- 2. Trina Solar
- 3. Risen
- 4. JinkoSolar
- 5. GoodWe
- CdTe glass makers: built for curtain walls
- 6. CNBM
- 7. Advanced Solar Power (ASP)
- 8. Mingyang
- Lightweight and film specialists
- 9. Sunman
- 10. Hanergy
- Five checks before importing Chinese BIPV
- Frequently asked questions
- Which Chinese company makes the most efficient BIPV product?
- What is CdTe BIPV glass?
- Are Chinese BIPV products certified for Europe and the US?
- Is there a lightweight BIPV option from China?
- Can Chinese suppliers make custom-size BIPV glass?
- Sources
China’s BIPV suppliers follow three quite different routes. The big crystalline module makers adapted their cells to roofs and facades. A small group of thin-film companies built cadmium telluride (CdTe) glass lines aimed at curtain walls. And a handful of specialists built lightweight products for roofs that cannot carry glass. If you are sourcing from China, deciding which route fits your building narrows the shortlist faster than any brand ranking.
Short answer: the ten Chinese BIPV suppliers we would shortlist in 2026 are LONGi, Trina Solar, CNBM, Advanced Solar Power (ASP), Mingyang, Sunman, Risen, GoodWe, JinkoSolar and Hanergy. LONGi and Trina lead on crystalline roof and facade products. CNBM, ASP and Mingyang make CdTe glass for curtain walls. Sunman and GoodWe offer lightweight roof panels. Hanergy is included with a caveat about its corporate history.
Last updated: October 2026. Specifications are taken from manufacturer pages, case studies and trade press listed under Sources. Where a figure comes from a press release rather than a datasheet, we say so.
Three routes, ten suppliers
| Route | Supplier | Key product | Published figure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crystalline silicon | LONGi | Hi ROOF S; BRIGHT facade | Up to 660 W, 24.6% |
| Trina Solar | TEG facade; solar tiles | Facade 400 Wp, 21.9%; tiles 209 W/m² | |
| Risen | Super Top; Super Tile | Tile 120 W | |
| JinkoSolar | BIPV modules | Scaled production since 2022 | |
| GoodWe | Galaxy; Sunshine tile | Galaxy 204 W/m² at 5.6 kg/m² | |
| CdTe thin film | CNBM | Large-format CdTe glass | 339.91 W, 17.7% (TÜV NORD, 2024) |
| ASP (Hangzhou) | CdTe curtain wall and tiles | Xiong’an: 486.68 kWp in 10,355 tiles | |
| Mingyang | Semi-transparent CdTe glass | 115 W/m² opaque to 46 W/m² at 60% transparency | |
| Lightweight and film | Sunman | eArc; eRoof | 2.8 kg/m², UL 61730 |
| Hanergy | HanWall thin-film glass | Nanchang curtain wall, 460 kW |
Crystalline makers: highest output per square metre
1. LONGi
LONGi’s Hi ROOF S integrates high-efficiency modules into metal roofing at up to 660 W and 24.6% efficiency. For facades, the LONGi BRIGHT range offers colored modules; the Shenzhen World Exhibition project used 4.74 MW of them. LONGi is the default choice where generation per square metre is the priority and appearance can follow the module grid.
2. Trina Solar
Trina sells BIPV through its Trinasolar Evergreen product line. The TEG facade module is rated 400 Wp at 21.9%, its solar tiles 209 W/m² at 19.4%, and colored PV glass 205 W/m². Trina also offers PV noise barriers for highways and railways, a niche few rivals cover. It is the broadest crystalline BIPV catalogue among Chinese tier-one makers.
3. Risen
Risen markets two BIPV roof systems, Converging and Empowering Energy Roof, plus the Super Top module (rated up to 740 W) and the 120 W Super Tile launched in 2022. Its focus is industrial and commercial roofs, where the roof and power plant are delivered as one system.
4. JinkoSolar
JinkoSolar announced scaled production of BIPV modules in 2022. Its BIPV range is narrower than LONGi’s or Trina’s and is best suited to buyers already using Jinko modules who want a matching roof-integrated product. Ask for current BIPV datasheets and certificates; public detail is limited compared with its standard modules.
5. GoodWe
Best known for inverters, GoodWe also makes BIPV products. Its Galaxy lightweight module weighs 5.6 kg/m² and delivers 204 W/m², and its Sunshine roof tile is rated 120 W. GoodWe’s advantage is offering the roof product and inverter from one supplier, which simplifies warranty and compatibility questions.
CdTe glass makers: built for curtain walls
6. CNBM
China National Building Material’s Chengdu plant made its first 1.92 m² CdTe panel in 2017 and started a 100 MW line in April 2018. In June 2024, TÜV NORD measured a full-size panel at 339.91 W and 17.7% efficiency. CNBM reports more than 300 projects and exports to Germany and Italy. As a state-owned building materials group, it can supply the glass as building material, not just as a module.
7. Advanced Solar Power (ASP)
Hangzhou-based ASP makes CdTe glass for curtain walls and roof tiles. Published case studies include about 6,000 m² of curtain wall at Ezhou Airport, 10,355 solar tiles totalling 486.68 kWp in Xiong’an, and a 368 kW project in Jiaxing. ASP is a specialist with a deep project list at home; check export certificates for your market.
8. Mingyang
Mingyang, better known for wind turbines, makes semi-transparent CdTe glass in four grades: 0, 20, 40 and 60% transparency, rated 115, 92, 69 and 46 W/m² respectively. According to pv magazine, about 90% of its orders are custom, and it runs a perovskite pilot line. Its transparency grades make it easy to balance daylight against generation in atria and skylights.
Lightweight and film specialists
9. Sunman
Sunman’s eArc panels replace glass with a polymer composite at 2.8 kg/m² and 2 mm thick, with IEC 61215, IEC 61730 and UL 61730 certification. The company reports more than 1 GW shipped to over 40 countries. Its eRoof product is the building-integrated version. It is the clearest Chinese option for roofs that cannot take the weight of glass modules.
10. Hanergy
Hanergy was once China’s best-known thin-film BIPV brand. Its HanWall project in Nanchang covered about 6,000 m² with 460 kW, reported at the time as China’s largest PV glass curtain wall. The caveat: Hanergy’s Hong Kong-listed thin-film unit was suspended from trading in 2015 and later delisted. Before buying, confirm which entity makes and warrants the product today.
Five checks before importing Chinese BIPV
- Building code, not just PV code: IEC 61215 and IEC 61730 cover the module. Facade or roof use also needs the local glazing, fire and structural approvals.
- Glass specification: for curtain walls, get tempering, lamination, interlayer and edge-seal details in writing.
- Custom sizes: confirm how power, warranty and certification apply to non-standard dimensions.
- Warranty backing: check which legal entity issues the warranty and whether it has a presence in your market.
- Balance of system: plan the hidden DC wiring, connectors and isolators early, as facade cavities are hard to access later.
ShineTong supplies PV cables and connectors, DC isolators and combiner boxes for BIPV projects, and our sourcing service can help check Chinese factories before you commit. Compare with global BIPV manufacturers and Middle East BIPV suppliers, or see China’s top solar inverter brands for the power electronics side.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chinese company makes the most efficient BIPV product?
Among published figures, LONGi’s Hi ROOF S, at up to 24.6% efficiency, is the highest. Trina’s TEG facade module is 21.9%. CdTe glass from CNBM reached 17.7% at full size in 2024.
What is CdTe BIPV glass?
Cadmium telluride thin film deposited on glass. It has a uniform dark look, performs well in heat, and can be made semi-transparent, which suits curtain walls and skylights.
Are Chinese BIPV products certified for Europe and the US?
Some are. Sunman lists IEC and UL 61730, and CNBM reports exports to Germany and Italy. Certification is product-specific, so request certificates for the exact model and size.
Is there a lightweight BIPV option from China?
Yes. Sunman’s eArc weighs 2.8 kg/m² and GoodWe’s Galaxy 5.6 kg/m², compared with roughly 10 to 12 kg/m² for typical glass modules.
Can Chinese suppliers make custom-size BIPV glass?
Yes. Mingyang says about 90% of its orders are custom, and CdTe makers such as CNBM and ASP routinely supply project-specific sizes. Expect longer lead times and minimum quantities.
Sources
- LONGi BIPV products: longi.com; Shenzhen World BRIGHT case: longi.com
- Trina Solar BIPV: trinasolar.com
- Risen BIPV: risen.com; Risen news: risen.com
- JinkoSolar BIPV production: jinkosolar.com
- GoodWe Galaxy: goodwe.com; GoodWe BIPV products: pvbm.com
- CNBM CdTe: cnbm.com.cn; Xinhua: xinhuanet.com; People’s Daily Sichuan: people.com.cn
- ASP case studies: advsolarpower.com; advsolarpower.com
- pv magazine on Mingyang semi-transparent panels: pv-magazine.com
- PV Tech on Sunman: pv-tech.org
- Hanergy Nanchang curtain wall: powerinfotoday.com; Hanergy BIPV: hanergy.eu