Australian smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies Limited (ASX:CPV) has successfully trialled an improved photovoltaic (PV) integrated glazing unit (IGU) for its smart glass technology.
The new design has shown a 33.3% increase in ClearVue’s power performance to 40 watts per square metre (at peak), which has been achieved with the current ClearVue technology platform including its nano and micro photonic interlayer technology.
Executive Chairman, Victor Rosenberg, said this 33.3% increase in power rating is the result of ongoing research and development work carried out to improve optics and enhance application of the PV cell technology into the ClearVue standard IGU design.
The improved IGU design demonstrated improves upon the end-product aesthetics with no decrease in the transparent aperture area of the ClearVue PV IGU product with no expected additional cost per square metre in the finished commercial end-product.
Through optical efficiency improvements between ClearVue’s luminescent optical interlayer element and the receiver PV cells at the edge and rear of the IGU, a wider frequency range was achieved with improved luminescent transmission within the interlayer.
Development of the new design has been completed by ClearVue in conjunction with specialist solar engineering company D2 Solar in San Jose, California, with all testing to date carried out in California.
Mr Rosenberg said further work is required on this design to make it ready for sale and for inclusion into ClearVue’s product portfolio – this includes product certification testing to add this new design to ClearVue’s current product certifications.
At this stage and subject to the impacts of COVID-19 this is being scheduled for 2021.
I am personally very proud to announce this major milestone for the company with an uplift in power from 30w per square metre peak to 40w per square metre peak representing a 33% increase in performance,” Mr Rosenberg said.
“The uplift in power was achieved through ongoing research and development work to fine tune the ClearVue IGU product design over the last eight months without changing the fundamental structure or underlying technology in any material way.
“Importantly this increase in power in the current design will have an immediate material impact on the payback period for customer projects as well as carbon embodiment for the ClearVue product.
“We anticipate that as our other research and development works already underway progress, we will be able to further improve upon this performance.”