German solar manufacturer Solarwatt has expanded its Construct series of building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) modules with the launch of the Panel vision M 5.0 construct. The Dresden-based company said the module has received general building authority approval, the so called allgemeine bauaufsichtliche Zulassung, or abZ, from the German Institute for Construction Technology (DIBt), joining several other products in its BIPV portfolio that have held the certification since 2020.

The approval simplifies regulatory procedures for applications that typically face more stringent building requirements, including overhead glazing and facade installations. Solarwatt said the new module is suitable for carports, parking canopies, facades and certain green roof applications.

“With our Construct modules, we significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on contractors, as the abZ ensures that the primary regulatory hurdles have already been cleared,” said Solarwatt product manager Norbert Betzl. The certification provides architects, planners and installers with greater certainty when designing and implementing BIPV projects.

Solarwatt has not disclosed full technical specifications for the Panel vision M 5.0 construct. However, the company said the module uses bifacial tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) half-cut cells and delivers up to 227 W/m², representing an increase of more than 20% over the previous generation.

By comparison, the earlier Panel vision GM 3.0 construct uses bifacial passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) technology and offers module efficiencies ranging from 19.4% to 19.9%, depending on the version.

The new module features 3.2 mm-thick glass panes, compared with 2 mm glass in the Panel vision GM 3.0 construct. Solarwatt said the thicker glass, combined with a reinforced frame, improves resistance to high snow and wind loads, making the module suitable for applications in alpine regions and on high-rise facades. The company also claims high resistance to hail impacts.

Solarwatt said it has supplied modules with abZ certification for European projects totaling 33 MW since 2020.

The Panel vision M 5.0 construct is available to order through the Solarwatt Pro portal for installation partners. Like the company’s other glass-glass modules, it comes with a 30-year product warranty and a performance guarantee of at least 90% of its original rated output after 30 years.