Smart solar windows company, ClearVue Technologies has struck a breakthrough strategic partnership with US energy efficient builder, Insulsteel Building Sciences that will see it make and sell the Perth group’s photovoltaic insulated glass panels that are capable of generating energy from the sun. Cleavue’s energy generating solar windows are a potential game changer for the building industry and particularly for high rise buildings that are almost all glass in some cases.

ASX-listed smart solar windows company, ClearVue Technologies, has struck a breakthrough strategic partnership with US energy efficient builder Insulsteel Building Sciences that will see it make and sell the Perth group’s photovoltaic insulated glass panels that are capable of generating energy from the sun.

Under the terms of the licencing agreement, Insulsteel will manufacture and supply ClearVue’s PV insulated glass units for the US group’s own use and for resale to other parties as a part of its IntelAwall composite steel insulated wall panel system.

ClearVue’s solar window glass panels will be fitted into Insulsteel’s wall panels at the time of fabrication for delivery direct to construction sites.

The deal comes on the back of Insulsteel’s plans to substantially expand its footprint in the US, which not only gives ClearVue’s solar windows a foot in the door of the US building market but it will also help boost the market reach and acceptance of ClearVue’s products in the USA.

Insulsteel, who has been operating for 20 years, says it is looking to increase the scale of its manufacturing and distribution from one location in Charleston, South Carolina, to a further 20 factories across the US.

ClearVue Executive Chairman, Victor Rosenberg said: “Insulsteel is in the process of scaling its US production and distribution to reach larger markets across the US with a particular focus on commercial and high-end residential.”

“(Insulsteel’s) products are a perfect fit for the ClearVue IGU product for architects, designers, engineers and end customers looking to achieve a net zero or zero energy building. The highly insulative nature of the Insulsteel system when combined with the highly insulative, energy efficient and energy generating features of ClearVue’s IGU design make for an extremely energy efficient building.”

Insulsteel’s building process involves the mass production of structural steel insulated panels and precision engineered components used in designing, manufacturing and constructing insulated steel framed buildings.

The licencing agreement between the parties means Insulsteel now has the right to manufacture and sell ClearVue’s IGU windows when they are combined into and sold as part of its IntelAwall steel insulated building system.

ClearVue has hedged its bets somewhat too and has retained the right to appoint other manufacturers and distributors in the US including those who may have developed other building systems and methods which are not similar to Insulsteel’s system.

Insulsteel’s framing system is a modular prefabricated panel-based system comprised primarily of steel and EPS insulative material.

Back in May, ClearVue announced a 33% increase in the power output of its PV IGU prototype to 40 watts per square metre following trials done on the new design in conjunction with Silicon Valley solar specialist, D2Solar.

ClearVue has been busy converting its research and development work over the past year or so into commercial deals and the latest strategic partnership with Insulsteel comes on the back of another recently announced Letter of Intent signed with Beijing Jinmao Green Building Technology to carry out a trial building project using ClearVue’s product.