Published 8 Jul 2025
S4. Ep 10. Talking with Martin Deil about Facade Innovation, BIPV Technology and the Future of Self-Powering Buildings
Hey, Legends! Welcome back to The Building Talks Podcast!
In this episode, I chat with Martin Deil, CEO of ClearVue Technologies and a global façade veteran with 30+ years’ experience. From leading PERMASTEELISA to now driving solar glass innovation at ClearVue, Martin shares how façades are transforming into clean energy assets.
Imagine a skyscraper wrapped in glass that powers itself completely. That’s not a pipe dream. ClearVue’s solar glass tech is already being installed in live projects across Australia and beyond. We spoke about facade design, the evolving tech behind it, and how building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are reshaping what’s possible and how the tech of the future can provide nations’ energy security!
Key Takeaways:
✅ Façades can now generate solar power
✅ BIPV tech is real, retrofittable, and scalable
✅ Collaboration is critical; architects, engineers, manufacturers
✅ Smarter façades = greener cities
✅ Logistics matter as much as design
✅ Buildings are big emitters; this tech helps
✅ Martin helped deliver The Shard; he knows complex builds
✅ Innovation can outpace the climate crisis
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Guest Background
06:56 – Career Origins in Facades
11:04 – The Role and Complexity of Facade Design
16:09 – Modular Facade Design and Replicability
23:40 – Supply Chain & Tolerances
27:12 – Lessons from the Factory
29:15 – Why Martin Joined ClearVue
35:52 – What is ClearVue’s Technology?
40:10 – How Much Energy Can Solar Glass Generate?
44:02 – Carbon & Financial Payback
49:57 – Reducing Energy Use Through Smarter Facades
51:10 – Partial BIPV, Retrofits & Flexibility
54:48 – Fire Safety Considerations
58:31 – Geographic Suitability & Payback Calculations
1:01:25 – Energy Autonomy and Grid Decentralisation
1:08:17 – ClearVue Greenhouses and Food Security
1:10:34 – ClearVue’s Future Vision: 2030 & Beyond
Hit play to learn how the skin of a building could power its future.
Hope you enjoy the podcast!
#TheBuildingTalksPodcast #ClearVueTechnologies #FacadeDesign #facadeindustry #buildingdesign #energygeneration #netzerogoals #firesafety #sustainablearchitecture #renewableenergy #buildingintegratedphotovoltaics #SolarGlass #BIPV #SmartFacades #GreenBuildings #NetZero #CleanEnergy #ConstructionTech
The views and information shared in this podcast are for general purposes only and do not constitute legal or professional advice. Neither the host nor the guests are providing specific guidance. Please seek professional advice before taking any action based on the content of this podcast.
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Building Talks Podcast
Talking to professionals in construction, property development, architecture, and beyond.
