IN A step that is set to revolutionise glass technology across the globe, Dubai Investments (DI) has launched the first-of-its-kind, coloured solar glass in the world which generates energy on its own.

The launch of the new technology coincided with the announcement of a new entity – Emirates Insolaire – entrusted to introduce the breakthrough concept across the world. Emirates Insolaire is part of Glass, a glass pioneer in the Middle East and a wholly-owned subsidiary of DI.

Emirates Insolaire is a joint venture using Kromatix technology of Swiss Inso, a Switzerland-based pioneer in the development and application of new solar technologies and products. “Kromatix is a first-of-its-kind business model not only in the region, but across the entire world. The technology is highly sustainable and is a major innovation for potential application in commercial and residential projects across the region,” said Khalid Bin Kalban, managing director and CEO of DI.

“The solar glass will be launched in two phases – Phase One will involve glass adapted with the new technology while the second phase will encompass the manufacturing of the entire architectural panels,” he added.

The company will produce the solar glass at the Emirates Glass manufacturing facility in the UAE, which has been modified to adapt the new technology. The breakthrough glass comes in virtually any colour. Optimised for both photovoltaic modules – which use cells to convert solar radiation into electricity – and solar thermal collectors, the glass provides a mat coloured, architecturally aesthetic appearance to solar panels, preserving more than 90 per cent of efficiency.