Externa supplies aesthetic Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and facade cladding solutions that integrate renewable energy into the building envelope. The company provides total solutions for thermal insulation, green energy generation, and energy storage, aiming to make buildings energy-efficient or neutral. They focus on architectural design to deliver high-performance, visually appealing systems for roofs and facades.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Conventional photovoltaic installations often require dedicated roof space, add visual bulk, and may be unsuitable due to building orientation, load limits, or aesthetic constraints, limiting their adoption in many construction projects. This results in higher energy consumption and missed opportunities for integrating renewable generation into the building envelope.
Solution
Externa delivers building‑integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and façade cladding systems that embed solar cells directly into roof tiles, façade panels, balustrades, and prefabricated wall modules. The products are engineered to meet architectural design requirements while providing thermal insulation and structural performance. Integrated vanadium redox‑flow batteries offer long‑life, fully dischargeable energy storage that is fire‑ and explosion‑safe. Externa acts as a single point of contact, coordinating design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation for architects, contractors, and building owners. The result is a building envelope that generates renewable electricity on site, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and moves toward net‑zero energy operation without compromising aesthetics.
Target Audience
The primary customers are architects, general contractors, and property developers seeking aesthetically integrated, energy‑efficient solutions for new construction or major renovation projects.
Features
- Solar roof tiles and cassettes with up to 144 Wp/m², featuring low‑profile, weather‑sealed integration that preserves roof appearance.
- Pixasolar façade panels with built‑in photovoltaic cells, delivering power generation on building elevations where traditional panels cannot be installed.
- Prefabricated energy façades that combine structural framing, high‑performance insulation, exterior finish, and PV modules, produced in controlled workshops and delivered as turnkey units.
- Solar balustrades available in full‑glass or vertical‑style designs, integrating PV modules into railing systems for both safety and power generation.
- Vanadium redox‑flow battery systems with 25‑year cycle life, full depth‑of‑discharge capability, and inherent fire‑ and explosion‑safety, providing sustainable long‑term storage.
- Integrated thermal insulation solutions that improve building envelope U‑values while accommodating PV integration.
- Modular, scalable design allowing customization for varied building geometries, load capacities, and orientation constraints.