Solar PV is the trend of the decade. All major industries are turning to solar power to turn sustainable. Both worldwide, and in India, solar energy roofs are being built to turn buildings into power stations. Looking at the global trend, in the UK alone, there are more than four billion square metres of roofs and facades that can take solar panels.

Tata Steel is working with Swansea University, UK, to harvest in solar energy. Working with photovoltaic specialists Dyesol, Tata Steel’s Corus Colors subsidiary is focusing on making sheet steel, treated with a sensitive coating, used in roofing for warehouses, offices and other buildings. The idea is to spray solar cells on the surface of the steel.

The purpose is to allow buildings trap the solar energy by the cladding and roofing with these solar-steel panel sheets. It is also estimated that large buildings could produce 50 times more energy than a wind farm, as the energy production would be consistent, the energy which will be used by the buildings for their internal needs and purposes.

After the announcement of a £9.5m award to an academic and industrial consortium led by Swansea University, by Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Tata Steel has insisted on the significance of the announcement for its development of hi-tech sustainably coated products. The project called Specific (the Sustainable Product Engineering Centre for Innovative Functional Industrial Coatings) and Tata Steel Europe is the lead industrial partner in the initiative.

The project also aims at delivering significant benefits to society in terms of energy generation and CO2 reduction, which will be a major step toward sustainability.Corus Colours, at its plant in Shotton, Flintshire, is building a roll-to-roll line that will make the integrated photovoltaic cells on flexible steel strips.

Jindal Power, one of India’s major iron and steel plant, plans Rs 7,500-crore, 500MW solar power project in Rajasthan. The work is expected to start by 2012.  They are currently negotiating with the government of Rajasthan and are likely to start construction of the first phase of our 500 MW solar power project there in next 1-1.5 years.

Corporate Ispat Alloys is also planning to set up a 2 million tpa Steet Plant in Jharkhand. The project is likely to be completed by December 2012 in Seraikela – Kharsawan district in Jharkhand.

And while we are discussing renewable energy in industries, here are some interesting links to energy efficiency in commercial and industrial sectors – useful links on energy efficiency in hotels, warehouses, airports, sports stadiums, hospitals and even prisons.

Interesting web resources

• C2V – CO2 to Value – a comprehensive web resource providing insights on opportunities in converting CO2 into a range of useful products – fuels, chemicals, food & materials
• All about CO2 – CO2 Q&A – a unique resource providing answers to 100+ questions on the most talked about gas today.