Autarq

What Autarq does

Autarq is a German climate-tech company that develops and manufactures building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roof tiles. Its core product consists of original clay or concrete roof tiles (manufactured by CREATON, Jacobi-Walther, and Skarpnes) bonded with monocrystalline silicon solar modules using a TÜV-type-approved UV-resistant adhesive. The system operates in a parallel-connected extra-low-voltage architecture (below 120 VDC) — a meaningful safety and shading-resilience differentiator versus conventional series-connected solar panels — and is completed by a proprietary wire harness, a low-voltage-to-inverter PV converter, and a monitoring app. The company is led by founder/CTO Cornelius Paul and CEO Kai Buntrock, with ~85 employees, a legal headquarters in Hamburg, and a semi-automated manufacturing facility in Prenzlau that reached a cumulative one-million-tile milestone in July 2024.

Autarq sells exclusively through channel partners: certified roofing companies (500+ as of May 2024) purchase tiles from building materials dealers and become 'Next Level Roofers' via the Autarq Academy training program, while a July 2024 cooperation with enerix added 120+ specialist solar dealer locations across Germany. End customers are residential homeowners (and to a lesser extent architects specifying projects) seeking aesthetically integrated solar for new builds or roof refurbishment; pricing is approximately €400 per square metre excluding installation, with a 25-year performance guarantee. A self-serve web-based solar roof configurator drives top-of-funnel lead generation, and the modular, plug-and-play system is designed so that standard roofers can install tiles without electrical qualifications, with first installations accompanied on-site by Autarq staff.

The company is privately held, founded in 2012, and headquartered in Hamburg (Autarq SI GmbH, HRB 195767). Capital sources include EU Horizon Europe funding (Project ID 970958) and a 'Next Level Impact' crowdinvesting initiative. Forward strategy is centered on European geographic expansion via 'microfabs' co-located at original tile manufacturers' facilities, deepening the certified installer channel, and growing the enerix specialist-dealer footprint. Multiple design awards (German Innovation Award, Red Dot, iF Design, German Design Award) and 2023 Top 100 / SET100 / Architects' Darling Silver recognition support brand credibility in the European BIPV market.

Name

Autarq

Legal name

Autarq SI GmbH

Website

https://autarq.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Autarq is a German climate-tech company that manufactures building-integrated photovoltaic solar roof tiles and sells them through certified roofing partners across Europe, serving residential homeowners seeking aesthetic, extra-low-voltage solar roofing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Solar Roofing

NAICS

Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing (327120)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clay & Concrete Roof Tiles (IMADAFAC), Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA)

Keywords

• Building-integrated photovoltaics
• Solar roof tiles
• Photovoltaic roofing systems
• Climate-tech manufacturing
• Rooftop solar hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Prenzlau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Solar Roof Tile Hardware Sales: Autarq generates revenue primarily through the sale of solar roof tile systems, including solar roof tiles, wire harnesses, PV converters, and monitoring apps. Products are sold to certified roofing companies via building materials dealers. Pricing is per square metre (approximately €400 per m2 excluding installation). This is a one-time hardware purchase for end customers; roofers pay wholesale prices through distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Autarq designs, manufactures, and sells a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar roof tile system. Original clay or concrete roof tiles from partner manufacturers (CREATON, Jacobi-Walther, Skarpnes) are bonded with Autarq-developed monocrystalline silicon solar modules and sold as nearly indistinguishable solar roof tiles. The system includes proprietary wire harness, PV converter, and a monitoring app, and is sold to certified roofing companies who install it for residential and small commercial customers.

Product overview

Autarq is a German climate-tech company offering a modular building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) system that transforms conventional roofs into solar power generators. The core product portfolio consists of three solar roof tile variants (CREATON PV-AUTARQ, Jacobi-Walther Stylist-PV, and Skarpnes Ovati) which are original roof tiles refined with Autarq-developed miniature solar modules. These are supported by proprietary system components including the Autarq Wire Harness (electrical connection system), Autarq PV Converter (voltage transformation), and Autarq Monitoring App (yield tracking). The complete system operates in extra low voltage range (<120 VDC) for safety and uses parallel connection architecture. Autarq also provides the Autarq Academy for installer certification and training. The company is expanding its 'Next Level Roofer' partner programme for certified installers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CREATON PV-AUTARQ Clay roof tile from CREATON refined with Autarq-developed solar module technology. Generates 8-10 Wp depending on colour, achieving approximately 120 W/m2 power density. Sold as the 'CREATON PV-AUTARQ' branded product; CREATON assumes liability and warranty for the roofing functionality. Available through building materials dealers and installed by Autarq-certified roofers for residential and small commercial projects.
• Jacobi-Walther Stylist-PV Clay roof tile from Jacobi Tonwerke GmbH (Jacobi-Walther) refined with Autarq solar technology. Generates 8-10 Wp depending on colour with approximately 120 W/m2 power density and a 25-year performance guarantee. Jacobi assumes roofing liability and warranty. Distributed through building materials dealers and installed by certified Autarq roofers.
• Skarpnes Ovati Concrete roof tile from Skarpnes (Norwegian manufacturer) refined with Autarq solar technology. Features 3.2 mm toughened structured solar glass and monocrystalline silicon solar cells, delivering approximately 124 W/m2 power density. Compatible with the Autarq wire harness and system. Distributed through building materials dealers and installed by certified Autarq roofers.
• Autarq Wire Harness Proprietary electrical wiring system installed on the roof battens by certified experts. Horizontal bus cables with 15 mm centre-to-centre spacing and vertical branch connector cables route power from each tile. Built-in fuses and UV/ozone/flame-retardant cables comply with EN 50618 (H1Z2Z2-K). Junction boxes connect two tiles each, and the tight mesh reduces lightning surge risk. Enables parallel extra-low-voltage connection of all tiles.
• Autarq PV Converter Converts low-voltage DC output (60-120 VDC) from the Autarq solar roof tile field into the higher input voltage (200-450 VDC) required by standard solar inverters. Mounted under the roof near the tile field and installed by an electrician. Includes automatic monitoring and automatic shut-off in case of danger.
• Autarq Monitoring App Mobile application providing graphical representation of solar power yields for Autarq solar roof owners, enabling monitoring of energy generation every quarter of an hour.
• Autarq Academy Training and certification programme for roofers and carpenters covering Autarq solar roof tile installation, wire harness installation, and system commissioning, delivered through two-day on-site courses and an Autarq Academy Online platform. Successful participants become 'Next Level Roofers' certified to install the Autarq system for end customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 W/m2 power density achievable (2022 tiles: 10 Wp per tile, 12 tiles/m2)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• enerixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 8 July 2024As of July 2024, enerix and Autarq announced a new cooperation making Autarq solar roof tiles available at over 120 enerix specialist partner locations across Germany. enerix is a specialist dealer network for solar systems.
• CREATONcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCREATON is a major European roof tile manufacturer whose standard clay tiles are refined by Autarq with integrated photovoltaic modules, sold as 'CREATON PV-AUTARQ'. CREATON assumes liability and warranty for the roofing functionality of the tiles. Products are available through building materials dealers.
• Jacobi-Walther (Jacobi Tonwerke GmbH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJacobi-Walther (Jacobi Tonwerke GmbH, Bilshausen) is a clay roof tile manufacturer whose Stylist-PV tiles are powered by Autarq solar technology. Jacobi assumes roofing liability and warranty. As of the data protection notice, customer data is shared with Jacobi as part of project acquisition.
• SkarpnescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkarpnes (Norwegian concrete roof tile manufacturer) produces the Ovati range enhanced with Autarq solar technology — 'Skarpnes Ovati'. Compatible with the Autarq wire harness and system.
• BIPV NederlandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of BIPV Nederland, a Netherlands-based organisation promoting building-integrated photovoltaics.
• EU Solar Buildings InitiativeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the EU Solar Buildings Initiative, a European platform for solar building integration.
• Solar Impulse FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAutarq holds the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, granted by Bertrand Piccard's Solar Impulse Foundation to profitable and sustainable solutions.
• Allianz BIPVminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of the International Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Allianz, a global alliance promoting BIPV technology.
• SwissolarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Swissolar, the Swiss solar technology association.
• Solar Power EuropeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of Solar Power Europe, the European solar energy industry association.
• DGNB (German Sustainable Building Council)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of DGNB, Germany's leading body on sustainable building certification.
• ESMC (European Solar Manufacturing Council)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember of ESMC, the European Solar Manufacturing Council.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights14 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtjFZaOrr90d_F8EiSU89EA
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/pages/category/Solar-Energy-Service/Autarq-1844126979140144
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/autarq-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/autarq_gmbh/?hl=de

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Autarq