Advanced Optical Materials at the University of Melbourne
In early May 2025, ClearVue’s team revisited the University of Melbourne to resume our research collaboration on advanced optical materials for solar window applications. We also delivered a new PV sample testing rig, custom designed by our Chris Cole, for use in the university’s PV characterisation labs. This setup—featuring a solar simulator and precision electrical measurement tools—enables rapid testing of small fluorescent laminate prototypes.
Our process involves creating various fluorescent laminates in the Chemistry labs by incorporating different optical materials onto our PVB interlayers, then laminating these into glass plates for testing in the Engineering labs. Measurements focus on energy conversion efficiency from simulated sunlight.
This ongoing work will refine our fluorescent material mixes and expand the range of methods for producing activated PVB, ultimately improving energy harvesting in high-transparency vision glass systems.
Rapid prototyping of specialty PVB types is valuable for research and commercial implementation. For instance, we can engineer a PVB to modify the transmitted light spectrum according to the plants’ requirements, and utilise this modified glass in future advanced greenhousing experiments.
Highly Efficient Solar Window Technology Enabled by Quantum Dots with Macquarie University
ClearVue is excited to commence a significant research initiative led by Macquarie University and funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC). The project, titled Highly Efficient Solar Window Technology Enabled by Quantum Dots, received a grant of $621,657 to cover research works from 2025 to 2027. This collaborative effort brings together leading researchers from Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales to accelerate the development of ClearVue’s next-generation solar window technologies.
By leveraging quantum dots with light emission efficiencies exceeding 90%, along with advanced light-guiding strategies and innovative PV cell integration, the research will enable urban building facades to become even more effective energy-harvesting surfaces.
Our Murdoch Solar Greenhouse is ready for the next growing season
In previous growing cycles, the solar-integrated greenhouse consistently demonstrated substantial reductions in energy and water consumption, alongside notable increases in crop productivity. After completing critical maintenance procedures and implementing enhanced automation systems, we are ready to kick off the next grow season.
Each season provides further empirical data on crop performance within solar-integrated environments, reinforcing and validating the promising outcomes observed in prior trials.
Our Lead Scientist Mikhail Vasiliev installed some upgrades to the climate control system (including the IoT-controlled sensors and active units such as window louvre systems); the control algorithms have also been upgraded, and we have installed a new laptop computer-based climate server system running new custom-made software for ensuring improved control over all climate parameters.
As a result of these enhancements, we have approached the average room temperature control levels to within near +/- 1C during the nights and approx. +/- 2C during the daytime, while also keeping the humidity parameters in check.
The greenhouse continues to produce energy consistently. After the cleaning in early May 2025, we observed 350 kWh produced in May 2025 vs 309 kWh in May of 2024 – the difference of 13.27% (2025 vs 2024, before correcting for weather).
