SWANSEA University has developed a technology which allows solar cells to be painted onto steel surfaces to capture solar energy.
According to the researchers at the university, the steel industry has been so far focused on improving the long-term durability and corrosion resistance of steel. This development represents a transition to a more functional way of looking at outside steel.
The discovery was prompted by research into how sunlight interacts with paint and degrades it, resulting in the development of a photovoltaic method of harvesting solar energy.
The developers say the cell generation efficiency is around 4% to 5%. The amount of energy generated depends on lighting conditions, although painted panels can be connected together to harness power. Their current capabilities are suited to low light radiation, and the developers are unsure if the cells can be used under the harsh Australian sun.
The solar generating paint is applied to the steel when it passes through rollers during manufacture. Researches hope to eventually be able to build up layers of solar cell at a rate of 30 to 40 square metres a minute.
The painting rate would make the coating industrially viable for use on steel building cladding, allowing for arrays of electricity-generating panels. The researchers are also working on cost-efficient ways to mount the system on steel structures, with the eventual aim of commercialising the technology.

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