Solar glass for self-sustaining greenhouses

Researchers from Edith Cowan University’s Electron Science Research Institute (ESRI), in collaboration with renewable energy company ClearVue Technologies, are building a 300 m² greenhouse using transparent glass that can generate 50 W/m² of surface area.

The solar glass allows 70% of visible light to pass through, while blocking 90% of solar UV and IR radiation. It will provide enough power to run heating or cooling for the greenhouse, as well as desalination to provide water. It could also be tailored to produce the perfect growing conditions for particular plants.

“Being able to selectively control light radiation, thus maximising the crop yield, while producing and storing electricity for water desalination, irrigation, heating and air conditioning, will enable greenhouses to operate in a closed environment,” said ESRI Director Professor Kamal Alameh.

“This is particularly significant for parts of the world that are too hot and dry for traditional greenhouse agriculture.”

ClearVue Technologies Chairman Victor Rosenberg noted that the glazing technology used to create the solar glass could be applied to applications far beyond greenhouses. “It could be used in the construction industry, for public amenities like bus stops as well as for specialty products,” he said.

The solar glass project has been made possible with the help of $1.6 million from the federal government’s Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program.