ASA Welcomes New Member Mitrex
At the Architectural Solar Association, we believe that for architectural solar solutions to become commonplace, solar technology must be integrated with the building systems supply chain.
We also see a gap in the photovoltaic (PV) industry’s ability to accommodate customizable solutions that architects require. As it stands, architects either need to adapt their methods or PV manufacturers must innovate customizable, affordable solutions that can be easily integrated into the building envelope.
The good news is that over the last several years, there has been a steep decline in the costs of solar technology as the cladding industry develops more innovative fastening means. All while architects are still designing buildings based on customizable cladding methodology.
The convergence of advanced cladding innovations and cost-effective customizable PV solutions can be seen in the product offerings one of ASA’s newest members, Mitrex.
Mitrex: An Overview
Mitrex is a sister company of Cladify, and is focused on integrating PV elements into its cladding solutions while maintaining an architect’s ability to customize cladding element dimensions and appearance. Mitrex is a prime example of a major building industry player that sees an opportunity in integrating solar into the built environment by breaking down the traditional barriers.
With a vision of completely transforming modern infrastructure, Mitrex sees the potential in every aspect of the built environment for energy generation. From cladding to solar railings, this new company has ambitious goals for integrating its innovative solutions.
Mitrex was established in 2019 by Danial Hadizadeh, founder of Cladify, a global innovator in cladding systems and solutions. Having roots in the built environment enables the team to approach architectural solar from the perspective of the building industry. In light of its established cladding integration methods, integrating PV is an obvious next step.
Mitrex Products and Solutions
Initially, Mitrex started out with two product offerings: solar cladding and solar railing. Both products are integrated directly in the building envelope and are customizable in terms of color, transparency, tint, and pattern.
Looking ahead, Mitrex is actively expanding into other building materials including solar windows, curtain walls, roofing, siding, and traditional framed solar modules. Mitrex also utilizes vertically unused spaces and offers full turnkey services from design, manufacturing, installation services, and financing to keep architectural solar cost-competitive.
Mitrex Solar Cladding
Mitrex solar cladding is a product unique to the North American market.
The company’s competitive advantage lies in its proprietary aluminum honeycomb back-sheet and customizable front-sheet. The aluminum back-sheet provides a unique structural backbone and it exhibits superior thermal performance by acting as a continuous heat-sink for the solar cells.
Due to its opaque nature, Mitrex typically integrates high-efficiency crystalline solar cells in its Solar Cladding. In addition, Mitrex’s front-sheet is fully customizable and can resemble stone, tile, wood, or virtually any appearance an architect desires, as seen in the images below.
Mitrex Solar Railing
In addition to its cladding product line, Mitrex offers a suite of solar railing components that can be custom configured to meet the architectural constraints of most projects. The Mitrex SolaRailTM utilizes amorphous thin-film or crystalline solar cell technology that can be tailored to a project’s transparency and sizing requirements.
The glass transparency, color, tint, and metal handrails and posts are all customizable. Mitrex has also developed a railing capture that seamlessly aggregates PV system wiring, a key detail for the aesthetic demands of modern architecture.
The solar railing is also designed to integrate seamlessly into modern architecture, as demonstrated in the images below.
A New Path Forward for PV Integration
Mitrex sees aesthetics as a major barrier to integrating solar into the built environment. By designing PV solutions that act as building materials, Mitrex is enabling architects to integrate solar without compromising design intent.
Mitrex’s unique architectural solar products and approach to the market opportunity from the perspective of the building industry will be key elements to their success. We look forward to seeing all of the unique projects that will stem from Mitrex’s building system innovations in the years to come.
Book a virtual or in-person meeting today to learn about incorporating Mitrex’s products into your next project.
To discuss ASA partnership opportunities, drop us a note.