In the global race to decarbonise buildings, an unexpected player from the Baltics is making significant inroads. Roofit.Solar, an Estonian cleantech firm specialising in integrated solar roofing, has reported a 90% increase in export volume last year as it prepares to enter the lucrative American market, writes Trade in Estonia. The company, which already exports 95% of its production to 25 countries, is building a different kind of green energy solution.
Unlike conventional photovoltaic systems that sit atop existing roofs—often as ungainly appendages—Roofit. Solar’sproducts integrate solar technology directly into roofing materials. “Our main competitors are not other similar solutions, but traditional rooftop-mounted solar panels,” says Andres Anijalg, the company’s chief executive. This makes all the difference in a market where homeowners increasingly seek sustainability without sacrificing kerb appeal.
The firm’s expansion strategy has focused primarily on Western European markets—Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Britain—where environmental consciousness meets disposable income. Now it is eyeing America’s East Coast, a region with both high electricity prices and strong environmental regulations. Also, the US is now imposing strict import tariffs for panels made in Asia (3,403.96% for Cambodia, 799.55% for Thailand, 542.64% for Vietnam, 168.80% for Malaysia) — opening new routes for other competitors in the growing markets.
Andres Anijalg
Navigating the regulatory labyrinth presents perhaps the most formidable challenge, says Anijalg. Even within Europe’s supposedly harmonised market, “we must consider at least four different fire safety certificates for each country,” he notes.
Yet, the demand is here to stay. As energy prices fluctuate and climate concerns intensify, the economic calculation is increasingly compelling: while traditional solar panels may offer lower initial costs, integrated solutions potentially deliver superior long-term value by eliminating duplicate structures and reducing maintenance expenses.
The company’s crowning achievement—both literally and figuratively—has been the installation of solar roofing on Tallinn’s National Library, one of the country’s most iconic buildings which is due to reopen after massive renovation soon. The project required close collaboration with heritage authorities to ensure that modern technology did not compromise historical integrity. Now the roof generates 68,302 kWh annually, with no visual sacrifices.
In 2023, the startup secured €6.5M in funding to boost production capacity. Subsequently, its NuClick roofing solution won the prestigious Red Dot “Best of the Best” design award in 2024. This year, the company is taking a leap across the Atlantic.
