ClearPV — a new transparent glass solar panel — has been launched in South Africa, thereby enabling buildings to generate energy while maintaining design aesthetics. This glass solar panel offers up to 30 W per square meter and supports energy efficiency by reducing heating and cooling needs.
Transparent Glass Solar Panels – A Game-Changer
A new transparent glass solar panel technology has made its debut in South Africa, thus offering a significant innovation in building design and energy efficiency. This innovation was launched through a collaboration between Australian-based solar panel developer ClearVue and South African distributor Concept Business Solutions.
Transparent Glass Solar Panels
This cutting-edge technology aims to revolutionize how buildings generate and use power. Branded locally as ClearPV, this new solar glass panel is poised to make a significant impact on the renewable energy market in South Africa.
ClearPV is a transparent glass solar panel, offering a breakthrough in building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technology. These panels have the ability to generate electricity while still maintaining transparency.
This makes them ideal for building facades, windows, and other architectural elements. The panels can produce up to 30 W of electricity per square meter, providing a sustainable solution for energy generation in buildings without compromising the building's design or aesthetics.
Collaboration for Sustainability
ClearPV represents a major step forward in the integration of renewable energy into urban environments. The system allows natural light to pass through, thus providing energy-efficient heating and cooling benefits as well. This makes it possible for buildings to generate energy on-site.
Concept Business Solutions will be the licensed distributor of ClearVue’s glass solar panel technology in South Africa. According to the company's managing director, Craig Boyd, ClearPV is unique because it allows up to 70% of light through while providing a thermal benefit that reduces energy costs associated with heating and cooling.
ClearVue founder and chairperson, Victor Rosenberg stressed the importance of decarbonizing the built environment, as it accounts for around 40% of global CO2 emissions annually. Rosenberg believes the ClearPV glass solar panel technology can bridge the gap between construction and renewable energy.
"Our mission is to support the decarbonisation of the built environment by designing products that improve energy efficiency and provide clean energy," Rosenberg said during the launch in Sandton.
Versatile Applications of Glass Solar Panels
The glass solar panel technology offered by ClearVue is not limited to just windows or facades. The product range includes opaque solar facades, solar spandrels, skylights, and even balustrades. These components together can provide an energy output of up to 200 W per square meter, which can cover between 50% and 100% of a building's energy needs.
By incorporating ClearVue's technology into buildings, architects and developers can design more energy-efficient structures that are capable of achieving near net-zero energy performance. This will be crucial in meeting global carbon-reduction targets and promoting sustainability in urban development.
The glass solar panels are made using polyvinyl butyral (PVB) glass. This laminated glass has a PVB resin layer sandwiched between two layers of glass, ensuring the panels are both safe and durable.
In addition, ClearVue’s technology integrates nano and micro materials embedded in the PVB layer. Rosenberg explained how the system works, stating, “We convert ultraviolet to infrared rays, and then the light is pushed to the edges where it is converted into electricity. We also form a heat shield, because we do not allow a lot of infrared to get through.”
With the launch of ClearPV in South Africa, the future of building design is taking a major leap forward. These transparent glass solar panels offer a dual benefit of aesthetic flexibility and energy efficiency, thus making them ideal for modern buildings.