ClearVue solar greenhouse increases yield up to 93%, saves over 25% of water and reduces grid-imported energy by 54%: findings from the 2024 grow season
The future is clear for agriculture
Imagine a world where greenhouses not only grow food but also generate clean energy, save water, and increase crop yields—all at the same time! This is exactly what ClearVue’s solar greenhouse at Murdoch University is proving possible. Built in 2021, this research facility is showing how ClearVue’s solar glass can transform the way we farm, making agriculture more efficient, sustainable, and profitable.
The research group at the ClearVue Murdoch Greenhouse is led by Murdoch University’s Professor Chengdao Li, and supported by Dr Hao Luo and Dr Mikhail Vasiliev (ClearVue). Since 2021 the group has run a multiple studies (grow seasons) and published extensively the yield and energy results in industry respected scientific journals.
Encouraging results that speak for themselves
The research at Murdoch University has delivered impressive results that have the potential to have a material impact on food production:
Bigger harvests
During the 2024 grow season, nine different plant species, including beans, leafy greens, tomatoes, and snow peas, saw growth yields increase by up to 93% in rooms fitted with ClearVue’s solar glass compared to regular glass.
Cutting energy costs
These high-tech greenhouses were shown to cut grid energy use by up to 54%, helping farmers save money while reducing their carbon footprint.
Less water, more growth
Greenhouses equipped with ClearVue’s glass are projected to use 25% less water, a major win for farmers in drought-prone regions.
Proven over time
These impressive results have been tested across multiple growing seasons, proving consistency of growth yield outcomes.
Detailed crop yield results
The study during the 2024 grow season (August 2024-January 2025) compared the yields of various crops grown in ClearVue-equipped solar rooms against a control room fitted with standard glass. The results speak for themselves:
These results imply that with the same amount of land, farmers can grow food more efficiently, produce higher crop yields and improve the profitability of the farmer.
How much energy did the solar glass produce?
ClearVue solar glass is a photovoltaic product primarily designed to generate power. Analysis of the greenhouse energy generation from March 24, 2022, to January 30, 2025 found:
- During this period, the total energy generated by ClearVue solar glass was 13,630 kWh. While a small portion was exported to the grid, the majority of the photovoltaic energy produced was consumed within the greenhouse.
- Compared to the energy consumption of standard glass greenhouses, the deployment of ClearVue solar glass resulted in an average annual energy savings of 54%. This means a greenhouse equipped with ClearVue solar glass is expected to consume less energy than one fitted with conventional glass.
The science behind the magic
Built in 2021, this state-of-the-art facility was designed to evaluate the impact of ClearVue’s solar glass technology on greenhouse plant growth. The Murdoch University is a high-tech research facility featuring four grow rooms: one control room using standard glass, and three rooms using ClearVue’s solar glass. Each room is equipped with automated watering, temperature control, and sensor-based climate monitoring to ensure a fair comparison. All four rooms maintained identical temperature and humidity levels, and every plant received the same amount of water and nutrients. This means the only difference between the rooms is the type of glass—and the ClearVue rooms consistently outperform the regular ones. The results were verified through controlled experiments and multiple growing seasons, and key findings remain the same.
Why this matters for the future
ClearVue’s application of solar glass technology within the greenhouse industry is now independently validated as a viable and commercial. This is an important milestone when actionable solutions are required globally to address growing concerns over food security, water shortages, and energy costs. ClearVue provides a sustainable way to grow more food using fewer resources.
For commercial greenhouses, ClearVue’s technology is likely to drive higher profitability through improved crop yields, cost savings and autonomous energy generation. Plus, quantifiable steps to meet tougher green and environmental standards a company must now comply.
The future where every greenhouse doubles as a clean energy source—growing food while powering farms at the same time. That future is closer than you think!
Are these results consistent?
This is the fourth growing season at Murdoch Research Solar Greenhouse. Since 2021, we consistently observed energy and water savings, and many plants species produced higher yields in solar grow rooms. We learned and improved our processes through iterative design, leading to better outcomes.
In Seasons 3 and 4 (2023–2025), we saw significant improvements because of the transparent cut-outs between rooms which allowed more diffused light and brought our growing environment closer to real-world conditions; and ongoing learning and refinements in climate control contributed to more stable and optimized conditions—further supporting consistent performance.
(Previously published scientific articles are available in the Resources section).
Key takeaways
ClearVue’s solar greenhouse at Murdoch University is proving that the future of farming is brighter, greener, and more efficient than ever before.
Delivering higher growth yields, lower costs, and a significant sustainability impact, ClearVue’s solar glass has the potential to be a game-changer for greenhouse market worldwide.
The results of the 2024 grow season are being prepared for a publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal. The article, once published, will provide more in-depth insights into the performance of ClearVue solar greenhouses, and the results of the experiment will be checked and validated by the scientific community.