Solar glass company ClearVue and US glazing technology company LuxWall will develop and commercialise the world’s first ‘Zero Window’, combining ClearVue’s photovoltaic solar glazing and LuxWall’s advanced vacuum insulated glazing (VIG) products.
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ClearVue’s technology helps generate electricity from clear glass, offering a significant 22.8% reduction in solar heat gain as recently demonstrated by independent testing conducted by Singapore’s peak building authority. LuxWall’s technology involves the use of vacuum insulation to create highly energy efficient single and double pane glazing modules, cutting heating costs by up to 45%.
The partnership combines these technologies to produce a new double-glazed format photovoltaic vacuum insulated glazing unit (or ‘PV VIGU’). It is expected to thermally outperform all existing double-glazed low emissivity solutions while also generating power from the glass, thus creating the world’s most efficient glazing solution to assist with achieving net-zero construction goals.
The final glazing product will boast unique properties such as optical transparency, lowest heat gain, and the highest energy generation currently possible for clear solar glass.
Zero Windows will see high demand from sustainability-conscious architects and developers looking for ways to reduce carbon in buildings, achieve top LEED certifications, and cut energy use in the built environment.
A prototype of the Zero Window will be demonstrated at the American Institute of Architects Conference on Architecture and Design in Washington DC in June 2024.
ClearVue global CEO Martin Deil said, “We are excited to partner with LuxWall on this innovative product. Vacuum insulated windows provide the best thermal performance products and minimise energy use. ClearVue technology can enhance that thermal performance even further and generate electricity at the same time, providing clean energy on site and helping meet sustainability targets.
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“By combining our respective technologies, we create a solution that revolutionizes the way buildings are designed and constructed. The Zero Window will be a net-zero focused window, reducing operational carbon through both thermal insulation and power generation.”
