Solar glass pioneer says next-gen tech has 66 pct higher energy output at half the cost

A next-generation prototype from Perth-based solar glass manufacturer ClearVue Technologies demonstrates a 66 per cent increase in energy generation while delivering significant reductions in production costs and complexity.

ClearVue announced late last week that its Gen3 Solar Vision Glass had been officially and successfully prototyped, trial manufactured, and independently validated by SERIS, a research institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS).

ClearVue says its Gen3 design has demonstrated capability of generating more than 50 Watts per square metre, delivering around 66 per cent more energy output compared to ClearVue’s previous generation of solar glass.

Importantly, beyond such a notable increase in performance, development of ClearVue Gen3 Solar Vision Glass has also resulted in substantial improvements in production efficiency and cost reduction.

For example, processing time for a double-glazed solar glass unit has been cut by more than half, down from around 5 minutes to around the 2-minute mark, an improvement which ClearVue expects will help to enable scalable manufacturing at materially lower cost.

ClearVue says it has also streamlined the engineering of each unit to cut required components from 17 to 7, which in turn minimises silicon waste, removes the use of aluminium and several other raw materials used in previous generations, and significantly lowers embedded carbon.

The company hopes the combined improvements will provide greater flexibility for global markets, allowing the solar glass to be supplied as single, double, or triple glazing, or with integrated LandVac Vacuum Glass, and to be manufactured in a range of sizes and thicknesses. A range of reflective and spectrally selective coating options are also available that can meet any thermal performance or aesthetic standard required.

“We are excited about the breakthroughs achieved by our ClearVue Gen3 Solar Vision Glass and the results of the SERIS testing demonstrating significant performance improvements,” said Douglas Hunt, ClearVue managing director and CEO.

“Over the past 12 months, the ClearVue team has been relentlessly focused on reengineering our Solar Vision Glass. We advanced product performance, streamlined componentry, enhanced solar technologies, and improved customisability and manufacturability.

“The dedication and expertise of our operations, engineering, and R&D leaders have delivered significant innovations in our building façade solutions,” Hunt says.

“Trial manufacturing has proven faster and lower-cost production due to streamlined engineering. These advancements will help our customers offset more of their building operational energy use while further shortening payback periods.

“ClearVue expects full certification testing of its third-generation solar glass to get underway in the fourth quarter and take around six months, at which point Hunt believes it will be “incorporated into commercial proposals immediately.”