ClearVue Technologies, Nodis Participate in Evaluation of Window Solution for the U.S. Air Force

Smart building materials company ClearVue Technologies Limited is pleased to announce its participation in an evaluation with Nodis Pte Ltd for a combined electrically switchable (or tuneable) window solution for the U.S. Air Force. 

The two companies have signed a Collaboration Agreement for the purposes of exploring ongoing joint opportunities with the U.S. Air Force, including smart window supply contracts, as detailed below.

Initial collaboration discussions between ClearVue and Nodis commenced in March 2018. In early 2021, Nodis commenced evaluation with the U.S. Air Force for a first proof-of-concept solution combining Nodis’ TruTint switchable film with a ClearVue PV window deployed into a building operated by the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineering Center. A first demonstration of this was shown to the U.S. Air Force on May 6, 2021.

Nodis is developer of a pioneering dynamic switchable glazing technology that uses Dipole Nanoparticle Suspension, or DNPS, to create an optical shutter system to block light transmission through glass. The Nodis product, marketed as TruTint, uses color-coated nanoparticles, which are suspended in microscopic wells inside a nanoimprinted film and sandwiched between two sheets of glass. Electric power is connected to each side of a conductive film coating to create a low-cost, instantly switchable piece of smart glass with infinite tints and colors. By combining film layers containing red, green and blue nanoparticles to create low-power, flexible digital displays within traditional window glazing is also possible.

Nodis has also been involved in a separate trial with Ohio State University’s Center for Design and Manufacturing Excellence (CDME) and the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Economic Adjustment’s Supply Base Resilience and Diversification (SBRD) Program for exploration and development of Camouflage Glass for potential deployment into DoD Warfighters. In this trial, the Nodis smart glass technology is being used to create glass that adapts to its environment—acting as active camouflage.

Phase 1 of the Evaluation Completed

Phase 1 of the evaluation involved installation of several Nodis TruTint smart glass windows and a single ClearVue PV window implementing a PV smart glass unit at an evaluation being conducted at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida. Nodis TruTint smart glass film was used to control the tint level and thereby the amount of light and infrared entering a U.S. Air Force building, with control coming from Nodis’ Window Control System using IoT and powerline communications technologies.

As part of the Phase 1 evaluation, Nodis monitored the PV performance from the single combined PV smart glass panel via a solar charge controller which charges a battery, enabling autonomous smart glass operation. Day-to-day PV smart glass performance continues to be monitored via remote monitoring.

Phase 2 of the Evaluation Has Commenced

Phase 2 of the evaluation commenced in November 2021 but will now add an additional four ClearVue PV power generating windows in combination with Nodis’ TruTint film. The additional ClearVue units were delivered during April 2022 and are expected to be deployed at the Tyndall Air Force Base in June 2022, with testing and evaluation to be completed in August 2022, along with final evaluation and reporting shortly thereafter.

Following a successful Phase 2 evaluation by the U.S. Air Force, Nodis will seek a third phase commercial engagement of Nodis and ClearVue to supply smart windows and glazing for upcoming U.S. Air Force building projects.

Collaboration Agreement Signed

ClearVue and Nodis entered into a Collaboration Agreement on May 27, 2022, which outlines the parameters for commercial engagement (Phase 3) and more generally. 

The Collaboration Agreement sets out the terms for collaborating on the promotion and joint development of ClearVue’s photovoltaic IGU and smart solar window solutions combined with Nodis’ TruTint dynamic switchable film.

Under the terms of the Collaboration Agreement, ClearVue and Nodis will work collaboratively together to:

• Complete the Phase 2 evaluation demonstrating a combined product (an initial prototype[s] combining the intellectual property and technologies of both Nodis and ClearVue) before taking current proof-of-concept demonstrations and creating a commercial format product in line with a project plan agreed to by both Parties (Commercial Prototype[s])
• Continue discussions for establishing a commercial Supply Agreement where one Party supplies to the other for inclusion into a combined end-product for supply of windows to the U.S. Air Force (or other customers) as part of Phase 3 or
• Alternatively, enter a joint venture or other arrangement where the Parties’ two products and technologies are combined into one final end-product based on the Commercial Prototype(s), that the Parties can both promote together.

Commenting on the Collaboration Agreement, Executive Chairman of ClearVue Victor Rosenberg says: “The Nodis TruTint product is at the cutting edge of the smart glass industry and is a perfect fit for ClearVue’s photovoltaic glazing solution. Nodis’ Dipole Nanoparticle Suspension dynamic glazing solution requires power inside the IGU or window to operate the control systems for switching and dimming the glass, and for powering and maintaining the state change in the Nodis DNP layer – which together we have already demonstrated through the Phase 1 evaluation with the US Air Force. To date, the combined Nodis and ClearVue solution has demonstrated the benefits of both solutions to the US Air Force: energy savings and energy generation offering a clear impact on sustainability and a path towards Net Zero. The next step is to complete Phase 2 of the US Air Force evaluation with Nodis and then to scale and commercialize a combined product for potential sales to the US Air Force and others.”

Commenting on the Collaboration Agreement, CEO of Nodis Michael Holt says: “The ClearVue PV IGU solution has demonstrated itself to be a great fit for use in supplying localised power to Nodis’ TruTint smart glass film. Getting power to windows, especially in a retrofit application, has been historically difficult and expensive. A Nodis TruTint DNP glazing system combined with ClearVue PV and battery and can be deployed without the need for wiring to the window. Where wiring is used, our solution also uses powerline control of the windows themselves removing the risk of over-the-air hacking of the glazing inherent in wireless control methods using WiFi, Bluetooth or other communications protocols. We are looking forward to working with ClearVue on completion of our customer evaluations and then, subject to success of the same, look forward to working with ClearVue to explore licensing and sales opportunities together under the new Collaboration Agreement and more formal agreements that will follow.”