Flexible solar panels have long been seen as a way to bring rooftop energy to buildings where traditional glass modules are too heavy or too difficult to install.
Now, manufacturer Apollo Power's new Panda Plus panel has earned a Class A fire rating from a certified lab — potentially making it the first flexible, lightweight solar panel to achieve this rating.
Here's what to know
Panda Plus was introduced in June 2026. According to pv magazine, Apollo offers the fully flexible 72-cell module in three versions: black and white frameless models made for adhesive installation, along with a framed option for standard racking.
The frameless model is rated at 320 watts, weighs about 15 pounds, and measures a little over 6.6 feet by 3.3 feet. The framed version is listed at 310 watts and 20.9 pounds, still lighter than many conventional rooftop systems.
Apollo Power CEO Oded Rozenberg told pv magazine that the company achieved the fire rating with upgraded materials and a new patent, but he did not reveal the details.
More background
Lighter modules can reduce the need for added structural work, which may lower installation complexity and help more buildings qualify for solar in the first place.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
If more rooftops can support solar, more people may be able to lower their electricity bills and improve energy resilience. At the same time, replacing more fuel-generated grid power with solar can help cut pollution linked to respiratory and other health problems.
Apollo said rooftops with weight restrictions or challenging building designs make up most of its business, though it is also looking to use the technology in other markets.
Apollo's products are already being used in transport electrification for trucks and buses, as well as in portable systems for defense and disaster-relief operations, including drone and battery charging.
What's being done?
Apollo said it is also developing a roof-integrated solar offering with an unnamed U.S. roofing company, pv magazine reported. The product is planned to be shown at a trade show in Las Vegas in November.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
