Completed project
Novel glass projects (VG15038 and VG16070)
Publication date: December 2, 2021
Delivery Partner: Swinburne University of Technology (VG15038) and Western Sydney University (VG16070)
From 2016 to 2021, the two investments Investigating novel glass technologies and photovoltaic in protected cropping (VG15038) and Research and operations to trial innovative glass and photovoltaic technologies in protected cropping (VG16070) collaborated to improve energy-efficient design and energy use in greenhouses.
The projects had a focus on the use of ‘smart glass’, semi-transparent photovoltaic glass (STPVG) and solar thermal collector technologies (STC). They delivered a scientific evidence and guidelines useful for vegetable crop growers for the potential use of innovative glass technologies to reduce input costs while increasing productivity.
Under VG15038
This project surveyed smart glass and renewable energy technologies available worldwide, evaluated their cost-effectiveness based on energy savings, productivity impacts and economic viability, and recommended optimal solution for growers who wish to use advanced energy efficient technologies in their greenhouses.
Key recommendations resulting from this research include:
Under VG16070
Smart glass film reduces heat gain during high radiation hot days and blocks heat loss at night or on cold days, provides better heat insulation than normal glass and reduced temperature control costs.
This project determined the impact of smart glass film on light quality and quantity, photosynthesis and carbon assimilation, and leaf biochemistry, yield and nutritional quality of vegetable crops in a high-tech glasshouse facility. Standard management practices were used for trials on commercial eggplant, capsicum and lettuce cultivars, to assess the efficacy of smart glass film on reducing energy, nutrient and water use without impacting crop yield and quality.
Read more about this project in an article published in Vegenotes magazine during Spring 2019.
Read this article about Bringing agriculture indoors published in Future Makers magazine by Western Sydney University.
These projects were strategic levy investments in the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund
© 2026 Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited.
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