SolaVeil®, a globally patented day-lighting technology developed in Wales, has been selected as a finalist in the Innovation Gateway – a major international search for new ways of reducing energy, water and waste.
Launched in March this year, the RBS Innovation Gateway attracted more than 140 submissions in just 40 days, from brand new concepts through to market-ready products and services.
The ideas came from innovators and small businesses (SMEs) around Britain and the world, from Perth in Scotland to Perth in Western Australia. The best ideas will be tested on the RBS estate of 2,500 buildings and branches in the UK.
SolaVeil® treated glazing creates ‘Solar Illumination’ for a building in the form of super cooled daylight, significantly reducing the energy requirements for both artificial lighting and air conditioning, whilst enhancing the potential for natural ventilation.
SolaVeil® inventor Brian Hughes, technical director at Cardiff based Daylight Business Solutions has developed SolaVeil® over the past five years with support from Cardiff University. He said: ” We are delighted to have been shortlisted in this competition and that RBS’s expert panel has recognised the unique innovative properties of SolaVeil® which is delivering tangible energy saving results at properties where it has been installed in Wales, England and overseas.
“The RBS Innovation Gateway opens up new opportunities to promote SolaVeil® internationally and, if selected, will help cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions on RBS’s estate.”
Announcing SolaVeil® as a finalist, Marcela Navarro, Head of Customer Innovation at RBS, who is leading the Innovation Gateway initiative, said: “Everyone connected with the RBS Innovation Gateway has been incredibly impressed by the company’s’ creativity and dedication to resource efficiency. The quality and the range of ideas we have received has been phenomenal.”
SolaVeil® technology has benefited from advice and support in a number of areas from Welsh Government innovation specialists, who also helped with regard to intellectual property and funding towards patenting of the technology.
Welsh Government Economy Minister Edwina Hart congratulated the company on its success: ” This is a great example of innovation in action – SolaVeil® has been a number of years in development and has been successfully trialled and tested in a Technology Strategy Board competition and subsequently retrofitted on a growing number of offices, schools and hospitals around the UK.
“SolaVeil®’s energy reducing technology supports our aim to cut energy costs and reduce carbon emissions and is a made in Wales success story. I am delighted to hear it has been selected as a finalist in this international competition which has the potential to open up new business opportunities.”
SolaVeil® day-lighting technologies are digitally constructed 3D microstructures – made from Titanium Dioxide – that reduces solar heat gain by blocking short wave infra red and controls the transmission and diffusion of the visible daylight spectrum through the glass façade.
Credited with transforming the working environment in offices, schools, hospitals and supermarkets, SolaVeil also reduces air conditioning requirements, significantly cutting energy costs and carbon emissions.
As a finalist SolaVeil® is now just one step away from seeing its innovation installed by RBS. The company will now go before a Dragon’s Den style panel at the bank’s London headquarters on 10 November for one final pitch.
Successful, market ready ideas will be tested in RBS buildings and branches. All successful concepts will be given a £3,000 grant to develop their idea further before any possible test on the RBS estate.