A world first trial of a clear solar glass structure will be installed at Warwick Grove shopping centre in Western Australia to generate power for the building.
Retail property group Vicinity Centres has partnered with smart building company ClearVue Technologies to replace the centre’s existing clear glass atrium has been replaced by a new structure that uses clear, photovoltaic solar glass (PV glass), which collects infra-red light and deflects it to the surfaces edge to convert it to electricity.
This is the first time ClearVue’s solar PV glass has been used in a commercial venture.
Vicinity has committed to $73 million of investment into shopping centre solar across 22 centres with a total capacity of 31 megawatts and is expected to be completed in 2019.
Vicinity Centres Executive General Manager Shopping Centre Management Justin Mills he is excited to begin the trial of the technology.
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“ClearVue could transform the way we use glass in our centres, which reinvents the way we harvest renewable energy,
reduces our exposure to the volatile energy market and our carbon footprint – a key focus for Vicinity.”
“We see great potential in trialling new technology, such as ClearVue’s PV glass, as we expand the solar program and innovation pipeline across our portfolio of shopping centres and as we explore mixed-use developments.”
ClearVue Executive Chairman Victor Rosenberg said Vicinity has taken a leadership position in renewable energy, which is why ClearVue wanted to partner with them.
“The Warwick Grove project is a major milestone for us. It’s the first physical site where people can see ClearVue’s PV glass being used and performing in a commercial setting. It enables us to demonstrate the many benefits of ClearVue’s PV glass technology for building owners and operators.”