New Era for BIPV: Matrix Shingle Solar Roof Tiles Enter Pilot Production in Freiburg

The Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE has inaugurated a new pilot production line for advanced solar roof tiles featuring matrix shingle technology, a milestone achieved under the EU-funded “SPHINX” research project. Located at the institute’s Module-TEC facility in Freiburg, the line supports small-scale production of photovoltaic (PV) roof tiles tailored for building integration, especially in architecturally sensitive and historic structures.

Swiss solar manufacturer Freesuns, a project partner, is using this flexible, semi-automated line to produce its newly designed 450x510mm matrix shingle solar roof tiles. The tiles incorporate high-efficiency TOPCon solar cells embedded in glass-glass modules and are available in various color options. Since March 2025, 800 of the planned 4,000 tiles have been produced, with installations underway on five existing buildings in Switzerland. These cutting-edge tiles will be on display from May 7–9 at Smarter E Europe / Intersolar in Munich at the Fraunhofer ISE booth.

Matrix shingle technology, an evolution of traditional shingling methods, improves module performance by arranging solar cells in a staggered, overlapping matrix. This layout eliminates gaps between cells, covers the collector bars for better energy capture, and reduces current flow within individual cells—ultimately boosting efficiency by about 4% compared to conventional half-cell modules. Moreover, the matrix layout significantly enhances shading tolerance, allowing electricity to reroute around shaded areas and deliver up to twice the power output under partial shading.

“This development is a major step in producing solar roof tiles tailored for aesthetic and space-constrained applications,” said Torsten Rößler, project manager at Fraunhofer ISE. The pilot line allows for scalable production of diverse building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) elements—lightweight, semi-transparent, or fully integrated PV tiles—responding to the growing demand for seamless solar solutions in urban architecture.

The SPHINX project brings together European PV manufacturers and research institutions to commercialize fast-deployable, cost-effective BIPV solutions, strengthening Europe’s leadership in sustainable building technologies.