An architect draws a terracotta roof, and the client asks for solar on it. A standard blue or black module will read as a dark rectangle on that roof. The question the buyer then has to answer is practical: how is the colour made, how much power does it cost, and how is it written into an order so the delivered product matches the sample.
Colored solar panels are photovoltaic modules or roof tiles whose visible surface has been given a colour other than the usual dark blue or black, by colouring the front glass, a coating, an interlayer film, the cells or the backsheet. Colour costs some output because it reflects or blocks light the cells could have used. In tests reported by IEA PVPS Task 15, losses ranged from about 5 % for well-tuned finishes to about 40 % for a white filter.
This guide covers the five places colour can sit in a laminate, what each one does to output and durability, the finishes available on the solar roof tiles we supply, and a six-step method for specifying colour on a project. It is written for architects, developers, distributors and OEM buyers who need colour-matched PV on a roof or façade.
What are colored solar panels?
Colored solar panels are PV modules built so that the surface a viewer sees has a chosen colour, such as terracotta, grey, green or white, while the cells behind it still produce electricity. They are one branch of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), where the PV product also works as a building material.
The term covers several different products. Some are flat modules for façades or roofs, some are small roof tiles, and some are standard modules with an all-black look. The colour can be printed, coated, laminated in or built into the cell, and each route behaves differently.
British and European buyers tend to write coloured solar panels or coloured PV panels. American buyers write colored solar panels. Both mean the same product family, and a specification should describe the method and the finish, not rely on the spelling.
Coloured PV module: a full-size flat module, usually glass-glass, whose front glass, coating or interlayer carries a colour. Used on façades, balustrades and in-roof systems.
Coloured solar roof tile: a small PV unit shaped to lay among conventional roof tiles and finished in a roof colour such as terracotta, grey or black. It replaces the roof covering where it sits.
All-black module: a standard module that uses black cells, a black backsheet and a black frame so the whole face looks uniformly dark. It is a colour choice, but only one colour.
Printed-glass module: a module whose front glass carries a printed dot or pattern layer, often ceramic, that shows a colour or image while letting part of the light through to the cells.
Colored solar panels and tiles: quick facts
Colored solar panels and tiles share one rule: every colour method trades some light for appearance, and the size of the trade depends on the method and the hue. The table summarises the points a buyer needs before asking for a quote.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Where can colour sit? | Front glass (outer or inner face), a coating, an interlayer film, the cells, or the backsheet seen between cells |
| Output loss, interference-coated prototypes | About 7 % relative to uncoated glass (IEA PVPS T15-07:2019) |
| Daily yield loss, mineral-coloured glass prototypes | Blue about 5 %, terracotta about 8 %, light grey 10.5 % (IEA PVPS T15-07:2019) |
| Output loss, white selective filter | About 40 % efficiency reduction (IEA PVPS T15-07:2019) |
| Tile formats we supply | 650 × 432 × 22 mm at 43 W; 1208 × 432 × 22 mm at 85 W |
| Tile build | 3.2 mm + 3.2 mm double glass, 182 mm monocrystalline cells, PVB, POE or EVA encapsulant per order |
| Tile finishes | Terracotta, glossy black and matte grey; other colours quoted per project |
| Rated power per colour | Confirmed on the order datasheet for the chosen finish |
| Samples | Paid samples, quoted on request |
| Minimum quantity per colour | Confirmed in the project quote |
How is colour made in a solar panel?
Colour in a solar panel is made in one of five layers: the front glass, a coating on that glass, a coloured interlayer film, the solar cells themselves, or the backsheet or back glass that shows through the gaps between cells. The IEA PVPS Task 15 report on coloured BIPV (T15-07:2019) groups the methods the same way.
The layer matters because light reaches the cells from the front. Anything coloured in front of the cells reflects or absorbs part of that light. Anything coloured behind the cells changes the look of the gaps but leaves the light path to the cells almost untouched.
1. Coloured or printed front glass
Coloured or printed front glass puts the colour on the pane the viewer sees first, usually as a ceramic ink fired into the glass before tempering. A dot or pattern print leaves open areas so light still reaches the cells.
Output falls roughly in line with how much of the glass is covered. In one printed-glass study in the IEA report, measured efficiency losses for chessboard patterns were 9.9 to 13.4 %. In another, prototypes printed at 30 % coverage in white or green lost less than 15 % of daily energy outdoors, while black dots at the same coverage lost close to 30 %.
Print on the inner face of the glass is protected from weather and cleaning. Print on the outer face is exposed, so ask how it has been tested for abrasion and UV.
2. Selective and interference coatings
A selective or interference coating is a stack of very thin layers on the glass that reflects a narrow band of visible light, which the eye reads as colour, and lets the rest through to the cells. It is usually applied to the inner face of the front glass so the layer sits inside the laminate.
This is the method with the lowest penalty reported. Blue, green and red prototype modules with an interference layer lost about 7 % of power relative to modules with uncoated glass, according to the IEA report. The report adds that a filter designed to make a module look white cut efficiency by about 40 %, because white reflects most of the visible spectrum.
Interference colours can shift with viewing angle. Ask to see a sample at the angles the building will actually be viewed from.
3. Coloured encapsulant or interlayer film
A coloured interlayer is a tinted or printed polymer sheet laminated between the front glass and the cells, or used in place of the normal clear encapsulant. The IEA report describes it as a relatively economical route because it needs no special glass treatment.
If the film sits in front of the cells, it filters light and output falls with the density of the colour. The report also notes that adding a layer to an existing module design usually means checking whether the product needs re-testing to the IEC standards. That check belongs in the specification.
4. Cell-level colour and all-black modules
Cell-level colour changes the look of the cell itself, most commonly by using black cells with black interconnects, a black backsheet and a black frame to give an all-black module. The blue of a standard cell comes from its anti-reflective coating, which is tuned for output, so changing that coating to another colour usually costs efficiency.
For all-black modules, the rated power on the datasheet already reflects the black build. Compare datasheet ratings between the all-black and standard versions of the same product rather than assuming a fixed penalty.
5. Coloured backsheet or back glass between the cells
A coloured backsheet or back glass shows its colour only in the gaps between cells and around the edge of the module. The cells stay dark blue or black, so the face reads as a pattern of dark cells on a coloured ground.
Because the colour sits behind the cells, the light path to the cells is not blocked, and the output effect is small. The trade-off is visual. It cannot turn the whole face into a terracotta or grey surface, so it suits projects that want a tint or a grid pattern, not a full match.
Colored solar panel methods compared: where colour sits, output and durability
Colored solar panel methods differ in three ways a buyer can check: which layer carries the colour, how much light the colour takes from the cells, and how exposed the coloured layer is to weather. The table compares generic methods and implies no product ratings.
| Method | Where the colour sits | Output trade-off | Durability consideration | Colour match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Printed front glass (ceramic dots or pattern) | Outer or inner face of front glass | Scales with coverage; 9.9 to 13.4 % measured for chessboard patterns; under 15 % daily loss for white or green at 30 % coverage, close to 30 % for black (IEA T15-07) | Fired ceramic bonds to glass; outer-face print is exposed to abrasion and cleaning | Good for standard colour references and images |
| Mineral colour layer on glass | Outer or inner face of front glass | Daily yield loss about 5 % blue, 8 % terracotta, 10.5 % light grey; up to about 17 % at STC for satin dark grey (IEA T15-07) | Applied before tempering; confirm weathering tests for outer-face use | Roof and façade colours including terracotta and greys |
| Interference or selective coating | Inner face of front glass | About 7 % for blue, green and red prototypes; about 40 % for a white filter (IEA T15-07) | Layer protected inside the laminate; colour can shift with viewing angle | Saturated colours; white and pale tones cost the most |
| Coloured interlayer or encapsulant | Between glass and cells | Depends on tint density when in front of the cells; no single figure | Extra layer may trigger IEC re-testing; ask for the laminate's test report | Wide range, including printed images |
| Cell-level colour, all-black | Cell coating, interconnects, backsheet | Built into the datasheet rating; compare against the standard version | Same as a standard module of that build | Black or near-black only |
| Coloured backsheet or back glass | Behind the cells, visible in gaps | Small; light path to cells unchanged | Backsheet colour stability under UV; back glass avoids this | Tint or grid pattern, not a full-face match |
The percentages come from prototypes and test modules in the IEA report. They show the size of the effect for each method; they are not ratings for any product on sale, including ours.
Does colour reduce solar panel output?
Colour does reduce solar panel output, because a coloured surface is visible only when it sends some light back to the viewer, and that light no longer reaches the cells. How much output is lost depends on the method, the coverage and the hue.
Hue also changes the loss. The IEA report calculates that for crystalline silicon cells, a narrow blue reflection costs about half the power of a red one, because silicon cells generate most of their current from light in the red range. Green sits between the two.
This is why terracotta and red finishes deserve a close look at the datasheet. In the mineral-coloured glass tests, the terracotta prototype lost about 8 % of daily energy against about 5 % for blue. Light and pale colours, especially white, reflect across the whole visible spectrum and cost the most.
Colour on the front glass did not raise module temperature significantly in the printed-glass tests reported by IEA. The loss comes from light, so it shows up in rated power at standard test conditions and carries through to annual yield.
On a project, treat the loss as a design input. If planning rules would reject a dark array, the coloured roof is the only one that gets built, and it still produces most of what a standard roof would.
Colour finishes on the solar roof tiles we supply
The crystalline solar roof tiles we supply are offered in terracotta, glossy black and matte grey, with other colours quoted per project. Colour is listed as customisable in the supplier datasheet, alongside size, thickness and encapsulant.
Colour samples of the tile line also show orange, purple and blue finishes, and a second set shows black, teal and green. Those samples show what the colouring process can produce. Availability, rated power and quantity for any of those colours are confirmed per project.
Gloss is a separate choice from colour. A glossy black tile reflects the sky like glazed tile or glass, while a matte grey tile diffuses reflections and reads closer to concrete or slate. On a sloped roof near a road or neighbouring windows, the matte finish also reduces glare.
The tiles come in two formats: 650 × 432 × 22 mm rated at 43 W, and 1208 × 432 × 22 mm rated at 85 W. Both use 3.2 mm + 3.2 mm double glass, 182 mm monocrystalline cells and PVB, POE or EVA encapsulant chosen per order.
We do not publish separate wattages per colour. The rated power for the chosen finish is confirmed on the order datasheet, and that figure is the one to use in the energy model.
The terracotta finish is the one most buyers ask about, because it lets a solar section sit inside a clay-tile roof without a visible dark block. Formats, dimensions and the project quote form are on the crystalline solar roof tiles project page.
The tiles are tested to IEC 61215:2021 and IEC 61730:2016, with test reports available on request.
How to specify a coloured PV product in 6 steps
A coloured PV product is specified by fixing the colour reference, the method, the gloss, the rated power and the batch tolerance in writing, then approving a physical sample before production. The six steps below follow that order.
- Set the colour reference. Give a RAL or NCS code, or send a physical sample of the roof tile or cladding the PV must match. A photo on a screen is not a colour reference.
- Ask which layer carries the colour. Front glass, coating, interlayer, cell or backsheet. The answer tells you the likely output trade-off and whether the coloured layer is exposed to weather.
- Choose gloss and check viewing angles. State glossy, satin or matte. Ask to see the sample at the angles the building will be seen from, since some colours shift with angle.
- Get the rated power for that exact finish. The order datasheet should state Pmax for the chosen colour and gloss. Use that figure, not the standard-colour rating, in the yield model.
- Approve a paid sample. Check colour, gloss and fit against the reference in daylight. Samples are paid and quoted on request.
- Write batch consistency into the order. Record the approved sample as the master, state the acceptable colour tolerance, and ask for one production batch per roof or elevation. Minimum quantity per colour and lead time are confirmed in the project quote.
Batch consistency is the step buyers most often skip. Two production runs of the same colour can differ slightly, and on a large roof the difference shows as a visible band. Ordering one elevation from one batch, with a few spare units from the same batch for later repairs, avoids that.
Keep the approved sample on site until the roof is finished. It is the reference the installer and the site inspector compare against when a pallet arrives.
Where do colored solar panels make sense?
Colored solar panels make sense where the appearance of the roof or wall is a condition of approval, part of a brand, or the reason the client chose integrated PV in the first place. Where none of those apply, a standard or all-black module usually gives more energy per unit of cost.
Heritage and planning-controlled zones
Heritage and planning-controlled areas often require new roof materials to match the existing roofscape in colour and texture. A terracotta or grey solar tile gives a planning application a better chance than a dark array on the same roof.
Bring the approved sample and the rated power into the application together. The planning officer sees the colour, and the energy statement uses the real output.
Terracotta roof regions
Terracotta roof regions are a natural market for red and terracotta PV. The IEA report notes that large parts of Europe and the world have terracotta roofs, and that red or terracotta PV fits those houses well. It also observes that some houses suit an all-black roof, where colour adds little.
For a mixed roof, the solar section can use terracotta tiles while the rest of the roof keeps conventional clay tiles in a matched profile. That keeps the roof uniform from the street.
Façades and balustrades
Façades are where coloured modules have the widest use, because a vertical surface is seen close up and often forms most of the building's look. The IEA report expects the largest façade demand to follow conventional white and grey material choices.
White costs the most output, as noted above, so a pale grey is often a practical compromise. A façade also collects less sun than a well-oriented roof, so the colour loss sits on top of the orientation loss, and the energy model should include both.
Brand-coloured commercial roofs and products
Brand-coloured commercial roofs, canopies and kiosks use colour to match a corporate identity. The same logic applies to products with a small built-in panel, where the panel has to match the housing.
Custom colour and size for flat colored solar panels
Custom colour and size for flat colored solar panels are handled through the LinkSolar custom service, which sources to your drawing, target output and finish. The same six specification steps apply, with the drawing added at step 1.
Send the outline dimensions, the target voltage and power, the colour reference and the method you prefer, if you have one. The reply confirms what the chosen finish does to rated power before a sample is quoted. Our custom solar panels service for colour, size and output covers the full request.
For small panels built into a product housing, such as sensors, lights or chargers, colour is usually matched at the backsheet, frame or front film. The options for that scale are on the custom mini solar panel sourcing page.
Where to buy colored solar panels and solar roof tiles
Colored solar panels and solar roof tiles for projects can be sourced through LinkSolar, which supplies crystalline solar roof tiles in terracotta, glossy black and matte grey and sources custom-coloured flat panels to drawing. Orders are quoted per project, not from a price list.
To request a quote, send five things: the colour reference, the roof or façade area, the tile format or panel size, the delivery country, and the project timeline. Unit price and warranty terms are both stated in the quotation.
Colored solar panels FAQ
Colored solar panels raise the same questions on most projects: output, cost, fading and which colours are available.
Can solar panels be coloured?
Solar panels can be coloured by printing or coating the front glass, laminating a coloured film, using black or tinted cells, or using a coloured backsheet. Each method costs a different amount of output: in IEA PVPS Task 15 test data, losses ran from about 5 % for well-tuned finishes to about 40 % for a white filter.
Are black solar panels less efficient?
All-black solar panels are rated on their own datasheet, so the effect of the black build is already in the stated Pmax. Compare the all-black and standard versions of the same product to see the difference for that product.
Which solar panel colour loses the least output?
Blue loses the least output among coloured finishes on crystalline silicon, because silicon cells take relatively little of their current from blue light. The IEA report calculates that a blue reflection costs about half the power of a red one.
Do coloured solar panels cost more?
Coloured solar panels generally cost more than standard modules, and the IEA report names cost as the main factor slowing their wider adoption. Our tile and custom-panel prices are quoted per project.
Do coloured solar panels fade?
Fading depends on where the colour sits: fired ceramic print and coatings inside the laminate are protected from weather, while coloured films and outer-face finishes depend on their UV and abrasion testing. Ask for the test report that covers the coloured layer.
Can I get red or terracotta solar panels?
Red and terracotta solar panels and tiles are available, and terracotta is one of the standard finishes on the tiles we supply. Red hues cost more output than blue on silicon cells, so confirm the rated power for the exact finish on the order datasheet.