Latest products! Solar electricity from noise barriers can be supplied directly to the infrastructure
Jul 07, 2022
Toronto-based integrated photovoltaic manufacturer Mitrex has released its latest product, the Photovoltaic Noise Barrier (PVNB) module integration product. This product has been tested to ASTM C423 and has a noise reduction factor of up to 0.7 for solar power generation and to enhance the aesthetics of roads and highways.
Mitrex has partnered with noise barrier companies such as Durisol and Silentium Group to bring to market photovoltaic noise barriers designed to power highways throughout North America. The solar power from these innovative noise barriers can be fed directly to nearby infrastructure.
With a capacity of 22W/ft2 on one side and 37.4W/ft2 on both sides, these highway noise barriers are designed to transform the road into a generator while maintaining the function of the structure. On average, each kilometre of road will become a power station generating over 1.2MW of electricity.
The company claims that the PVNB can be used in almost any design, including opaque and transparent solutions.
A truly important feature of Mitrex's PVNB components is noise absorption. With performance comparable to existing noise absorbing barriers, these PVNBs reduce unwanted traffic noise while generating electricity, a first of its kind noise wall system.
Durisol and Silentium Group selected their respective existing noise wall systems in North America and retrofitted the systems using Mitrex absorptive PVNB component technology. These pilot projects with government entities were designed to obtain data and analyse PVNB.
Expanding from the typical building-integrated solar technology (BIPV), Mitrex envisions a future where every surface touched by the sun's rays generates renewable electricity, which minimises our impact on global warming.
Until recently, Mitrex was better known as a developer and manufacturer of solar-integrated BIPV materials such as facades, roofs, railings, windows and more. Rooted in the construction industry and BIPV, Mitrex has started to expand into road-integrated PV with the ultimate goal of integrating solar energy into all surfaces that have access to the sun.
