A greenhouse at Murdoch University in Perth has been built using high-tech ClearVue solar glass and has officially been opened as the world’s first clear solar glass greenhouse. It will be used to run experiments on the plants inside the greenhouse, and ClearVue will be using it to monitor their own solar glass. The development of the greenhouse was funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Australian Federal Government’s AusIndustry Cooperative Research Centre Projects program.
ClearVue Solar Glass
ClearVue Technologies Limited developed glass panes that consist of a nanoparticle interlayer sandwiched between two sheets of glass. The inner sheet of glass also has a spectral-selective coating. This design allows 70% of visible light to pass through the pane while redirecting infrared and ultraviolet lights to the edge of the panes, where they’re absorbed by the solar cells in the frame. Currently, their solar glass generates up to 30 watts per 1 meter squared. However, they believe that with future R&D, they can increase that energy generated to 50 watts.
Murdoch University Greenhouse
The greenhouse at Murdoch University was built using three different types of ClearVue’s solar glass. The high-tech glass is an excellent choice for a greenhouse, not only because of its increased insulation capabilities but also because it helps keep harmful substances from the plants. UV is harmful to plants, and so they generally need to create a coating to protect themselves from it. However, because the ClearVue solar glass prevents most of the UV from passing through and turns it into energy instead, the plants likely won’t need to spend as much of their own energy on protecting themselves.
The greenhouse also has technology integrated to detect conditions (such as temperature and lighting) in real-time. This will allow the building to make automatic adjustments to control the microclimate of the greenhouse.
This high-tech greenhouse will be used by Murdoch University’s Professor Chengdao Li and his team. They’ll be conducting research on plant breeding technologies and their integration to produce commercial crop varieties. At the same time, ClearVue will be analysing the greenhouse’s energy generation and energy-efficiency performances.
Getting Your Own Solar Panels — Perth and Elsewhere
Solar energy is an efficient and cost-effective way of becoming more sustainable yourself. For anyone in Perth that’s been inspired by this greenhouse to change over to solar energy, Arise Solar offers business and residential solar panels. Arise Solar also installs solar panels in all of Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, and South Australia. If you’re looking to make the switch to solar, contact us to chat with our friendly staff about your options!
