Solar

Solar glass maker ClearVue secures funding to begin local manufacturing

Published by

Perth-based smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies has secured a grant of up to $2 million from the Western Australian government which will help to bring manufacturing of the company’s core technology onshore.

ClearVue, who has designed a proprietary method of integrating solar technology into building surfaces, specifically into glass and building façades, will use the grant of up to $2 million to establish a WA-based Photovoltaic (PV) and Nanoparticle Components Manufacturing Facility.

The move is part of Western Australia’s larger goal of building up a nation-leading clean energy manufacturing industry. The grant is being made available under the WA government’s Investment Attraction Fund (IAF) which was launched in March 2022 and which has served as a key enabler for attracting investment into the state.

ClearVue will bring onshore manufacturing of key components required for its solar integrated glazing units (IGUs) and windows. Specifically, ClearVue intends to create a solar PV strip assembly line to manufacture the PV strips used in the company’s PV solar windows and façades.

ClearVue will also establish an in-house nanoparticle and quantum dot production capability to produce nanoparticles used in the polyvinyl butyral lamination interlayer currently used in the majority of the Company’s end products.

“Our board and management, and all of our staff and partners, are incredibly grateful to the State Government of Western Australia for selecting ClearVue for this grant,” said Jamie Lyford, acting CEO and executive director of ClearVue.

“The ClearVue team is very proud to have had their proposal selected – it is a fantastic honour and a testament to the hard work that the team put into the submission.

“COVID and the Ukraine war have confirmed that control of the manufacturing of our core components is critical to ensuring our future supply chain.

“We are all very pleased that we will be able to keep certain core parts of the business within Western Australia going forward – including creating new local skilled jobs and diversifying the economy – even as we are reaching out into global markets including our key sales territories of the US and Europe.”

The news comes only days after ClearVue unveiled improvements to its solar glass technology and solar façades which will reduce fabrication time and costs while also boosting energy output.

Specifically, ClearVue expects their technological improvements to reduce fabrication time by over 90%, resulting in both cost savings and the ability to better scale up production.

“The latest improvements to the ClearVue IGU design are a step-change for how ClearVue’s core product is manufactured, offering significant reductions in fabrication time for our licensed manufacturers, delivering consequent cost reductions and increases in manufacturing throughput,” said Lyford.

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.

Joshua S Hill

Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.

Share
Published by

Recent Posts

Labor girds for tricky fight for green hydrogen tax credits in last week of parliament

The hydrogen tax credit bill is being introduced to Parliament, with the Coalition opposed and…

25 November 2024

South Australia’s biggest battery charges up as new wave of storage prepares to enter grid

Commissioning has started on what will be the biggest battery in South Australia, with a…

25 November 2024

Bad for consumers: Regulator pings generators and batteries for multiple “rebids” in high priced events

AER says bidding behaviour of some electricity market participants - peaking plants and big batteries…

22 November 2024

Gas lobby hoorays South Australia capacity payment plan as clean energy industry fears backward step

Gas lobby hoorays the proposed South Australia capacity scheme that would include existing gas generators,…

22 November 2024

Australia’s only wind turbine tower maker to close shop, prompts Coalition to ignore its own history

News Australia's only wind turbine tower manufacturer has decided to pack it in has been…

22 November 2024

Energy Insiders Podcast: Changing the rules of the energy game

The rules of Australia's main electricity grid are constantly changing. Should they be completely rewritten?…

22 November 2024