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Doug Bright
A Victorian parliamentary inquiry has backed the increased use of solar-power generating glazing and other architectural surfaces and structures in apartment buildings across the state, citing a body of evidence in support of its use provided by ClearVue Technologies.
The company’s evidence was cited throughout a final inquiry report which recommended new standards and support for the building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) solar technologies in apartment buildings, with several recommendations aligning with the case put forward by ClearVue.
The inquiry into renewable and affordable energy for apartments found that conventional rooftop solar is significantly restricted in high-rise buildings due to limited roof space and competing demands for shared amenities, such as air conditioning systems. It concluded that residents in these buildings cannot access the same power bill savings as those in standalone homes, due to lower generation capacity per household.
Notably, the report highlighted the massive untapped potential of building façades, noting a typical 10-story apartment tower could potentially have eight to 10 times more surface area on its exterior walls than on its roof.
‘Australia has led the world in the uptake of rooftop solar. The next opportunity is to unlock the rest of the built environment.’
ClearVue Technologies chair Theresa Smits
In its findings, the committee directly quoted ClearVue’s submission, which demonstrated that for a standard 75-square-metre Melbourne apartment, a power-generating surface of just under 30 square metres across its windows and balustrades could supply 100 per cent of the household’s energy demand.
Based on this, the committee concluded that rooftop solar coupled with other building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products – such as glazing, façades and spandrels – would greatly increases the energy generation capacity of apartment buildings and would enable mid- and high-rise apartments to better meet their energy needs where roof space is constrained.
Critically, the committee’s Recommendation 13 calls on the Victorian Government to work with its federal counterpart and industry to develop clear product standards and energy performance accreditation for BIPV. It also recommends revising building and planning regulations to encourage the use of the technology in residential buildings.
The push for BIPV standards aligns with a broader policy shift in Australia, where both federal and state governments are actively supporting clean-energy supply chains and renewable technologies through regulation and public funding. This state-level momentum could provide a clear pathway for BIPV to move from a niche technology towards a regulated mainstream energy infrastructure.
The inquiry also recommended the state’s Solar for Apartments Program be extended beyond April 2027 and have its eligibility expanded to include larger and more complex buildings – a significant move which could open the door for BIPV to be included in government subsidies.
ClearVue Technologies chair Theresa Smits said: “An independent Parliamentary Committee has recognised the role BIPV can play in addressing one of the fundamental challenges facing renewable energy generation in our increasingly vertical cities.”
The report’s findings land as ClearVue racks up a string of commercial and technical successes. The company recently secured a landmark contract to supply its solar skylights for Canva’s new Sydney headquarters and has established manufacturing and distribution agreements with major glass fabricators, including Emirates Glass and India’s Aria Glass Industries.
It has also been systematically achieving global certifications for its products. In June, its third-generation vision glass passed a key European standard for insulating glass units, validating its design for use in standard double-glazing.
Financially, the company appears well-positioned to capitalise on any policy shift, having recently raised $6 million to drive the development of new products and growth.
The inquiry also drew on evidence from Professor Rebecca Yang, a globally recognised BIPV expert from The University of Melbourne, who was appointed by ClearVue as an independent non-executive director in July. She told the committee that coupling rooftop solar with BIPV offers a realistic pathway to materially scale up on-site power generation for high-rise precincts.
While the committee’s recommendations are not binding, the Victorian Government is required to respond within six months. For ClearVue, which has been building its products to international standards in anticipation of exactly this kind of policy shift, the inquiry’s findings could represent a significant tailwind. The stage is set it seems, with the next move belonging to the policymakers.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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