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Solar Bus Shelters – ClearVue Technology

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Australian based ClearVue technologies will roll out their transparent solar technology to create solar bus shelters and outdoor advertising, in a new business venture with yStop.

Solar Bus Shelters and More – Clearvue

ClearVue and yStop - Solar Bus Shelters
ClearVue and yStop – Solar Bus Shelters

ClearVue has signed an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with Global Smart Cities, trading as yStop in Australia, to “integrate ClearVue technologies into advanced outdoor applications”.

This JV will see yStop “exclusively collaborate” with ClearVue to supply some or all of the power yStop uses in its “smart furniture” and illuminated street signs/sponsorship.

According to Clearvue, their solar windows generate >30W per square metre, insulate from heat and cold, and offer UV control as well. They’re hoping to reach 50W per square metre in the near future. 

“The MOU between ClearVue and yStop represents our first collaboration opportunity where we will be able to demonstrate the versatility of the ClearVue technology and products,” executive chairman of ClearVue Victor Rosenberg said in comments about the project.

“By integrating our solar glass with yStop’s illuminated street signs and advanced bus shelters, we will be able to demonstrate how ClearVue’s technologies can be deployed in situations where grid connectivity isn’t possible or is difficult, yet clear, well‐lit glass remains a requirement,” he said.

“Modern bus shelters require power, lighting, illuminated advertising, electronic display advertising and information screens – the ClearVue solution is a great fit for this.

“Through this MOU we hope to be able to show our potential to customers and to the broader market.”

It’s been a huge year for ClearVue Technologies, who have had a few massive wins:

We’re excited to see how the rest of 2018 and the future pans out for ClearVue – watch this space and we’ll keep you updated as to their movements! 

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Transparent Solar Technology for Windows Created

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Transparent Solar materials which could be applied to windows, buildings, car windows (effectively any device with a clear surface) have been created at Michigan State University. The highly transparent solar cells represent a gigantic step forward for solar technology and we’re excited to see the different types of applications they’ll have when they come to market.

Transparent Solar Materials – Solar Windows and more?

Transparent Solar Panel for Windows
Transparent Solar Panel for Windows (source: smh.com.au via Yimu Zhao and Richard Lunt)

Engineering researchers at Michigan State University released a paper entitled ‘Solar energy that doesn’t block the view‘ in 2014. Since then they’ve been improving the technology efficiency and preparing it for market.

Dr. Richard Lunt, the Johansen Crosby Endowed Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at MSU, was one of the scientists responsible for this breakthrough. Along with Christopher Traverse, Richa Pandey, and Miles Barr from Ubiquitous Energy Inc, the team have been working towards increasing the efficiency of the transparent solar film. They’re currently recording efficiencies of over 10% (typical solar panels are 15-20% efficient in converting sunlight into energy), so there’s still a ways to go, but considering these are able to be applied while not affecting the usability of windows etc., it’s a major breakthrough.

“Highly transparent solar cells represent the wave of the future for new solar applications,” Dr. Lunt said. “We analyzed their potential and show that by harvesting only invisible light, these devices can provide a similar electricity-generation potential as rooftop solar while providing additional functionality to enhance the efficiency of buildings, automobiles and mobile electronics.”

According to the SMH, the tech works via organic molecules within the transparent film – they absorb ultraviolet and infrared lightwaves (invisible to the human eye) and convert the lightwaves into electricity. The molecules do this by directing the lightwaves to small photovoltaic cells at the edge of the screen. This allows them to allow visible light through and still harness the energy. The film itself is less than one-thousandth of a millimetre thick!

The team estimate there is 5-7 billion square metres of glass in the United States – so if this tech were to be applied at scale it could just about fulfil half of America’s energy needs. Another great step forward for solar panel technology!

You can also read the article entitled “Emergence of highly transparent photovoltaics for distributed applications” on Nature.com by clicking here (requires subscription). 

Alternatively, watch the video below which shows a working prototype by Dr. Lunt!

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