The steel giant plans to produce metal roof and wall cladding that generates competitively priced electricity even on cloudy days.
To scale up for commercial production at the Shotton works in Wales, it is boosting the team on the project from 30 to 50 staff.
Tata teamed up with Australian firm Dyesol to develop the new coating, which works like a huge photovoltaic cell across a building’s metal surface, generating electricity along similar lines to photosynthesis in plants.
Peter Strikwerda, managing director of Tata Steel Colors, said: “This project forms a key part of the Tata Steel strategy to develop a new range of functional coated steel products based on renewable energy for use on the roofs and walls of buildings.
“The project has met the objectives originally set for this phase to determine the photovoltaic cell architecture on steel, the roof component designs, the manufacturing processes and the raw materials requirements.
“This expansion takes the project from its laboratory and pilot line phase into a pre-industrialisation phase.
He added: “We will significantly accelerate technical progress with the objective of establishing a product, process and supply chain that can be successfully commercialised.”
Technology
Dye solar cell technology can best be described as “artificial photosynthesis”. A thin layer of titania, a pigment used in paint and tooth paste, and ruthenium dye is deposited on glass or metal. Light striking the dye excites electrons which are absorbed by the titania to become an electric current many times stronger than that found in natural photosynthesis in plants. The process has tremendous potential for commercial use because it works well in all light conditions.