BlueScope Steel supplies more than 20 million sq m of Australia's roofing each year. The company is part of the Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium (VICOSC) , set up in March 2007 to develop materials and processes, such as printing, for making organic solar cells.
Dr Evan Evans, manager of BlueScope's coatings research, explains the company's interest in organic solar cell technology.
Our steel products have high market share in commercial and residential construction. We see this roofing area as a great platform for developing an integrated photovoltaic (PV) product, so are interested in those PV technologies which have a lower cost base, are flexible and can be integrated with our products.
Is VICOSC BlueScope's first involvement in solar PV technology of any sort?
BlueScope Steel has been interested in PV technologies since the mid-1990s. We have been active in research, market assessment and prototyping of thin-film, or second-generation, PVs that fit with our steel roofing technology.
Why did BlueScope join VISOSC?
BlueScope Steel entered the VICOSC project for a number of reasons:
- VICOSC brought together a team of people from different organisations with the ranges of skills and expertise needed to tackle such a complex development
- The leaders of the project have good track records in producing commercial outcomes
- The VICOSC project is not focused on a single technology but includes work on both polymeric OPV and dye-sensitised OPV technologies.
What is BlueScope bringing, or contributing, to the project?
- A track record in developing and commercialising new technologies
- Expertise in testing and developing coatings for the harsh Australian environment - needed for the selection of components to achieve the required device lifetimes.
- Large-scale manufacturing experience.
Why is the VISOSC project so important to Australia in economical, industrial and other terms?
Australia has a strong track record in PV innovations and developments, a climate ideally suited to take advantage of PV and high usage of steel in roofing applications.
In addition, Australia has a need to provide affordable electrical power to remote areas that are currently reliant on high-cost options, such as diesel fuel generators. This provides an opportunity to implement sustainable, non-grid connected solar solutions.
Is steel becoming a more eco-friendly industry - could steel companies become renewable energy companies in the future?
BlueScope Steel products are used to construct greater than 20 million sq m of roofing annually in Australia. We see this roofing area as a great platform for developing an integrated PV product. The company already provides energy-efficient roofing solutions through the incorporation of our Thermatech infrared reflective pigments in Colourbond steel product. The incorporation of solar energy generation capability into our roofing products is the logical next step.
What are the main challenges to integrating, or fabricating, solar cells on steel?
There are many challenges and that is why the wide range of skills and expertise in the VICOSC team is so important. The specific challenges involved in incorporating the cells into a steel solution will be more evident as the product proceeds beyond proof-of-concept stage to the point where material properties and fabrication technique are confirmed.
How will BlueScope Steel convert its involvement in VICOSC into a commercial result?
We don't have a fixed view on the path to commercialisation at this stage, and this won't become clearer until the product material properties and functionality are confirmed.
The team from the Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium (VICOSC). From left: Dr Evan Evans (BlueScope Steel), Minister Mr Peter Batchelor, Professor Andrew Holmes (University of Melbourne), Mr Gary Power (Securency), Mr Peter Sommers (Merck Australia), Dr Gerry Wilson (CSIRO MHT), Dr Udo Bach (Monash University).
Source: University of Melbourne
Documents and links
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Bluescope Steel
Website of the Australian construction firm, which is planning to implement OPV roof panels
External Link
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VICOSC
The Victorian Organic Solar Cell Consortium brings academia and industry together to promote the commercialisation of OPVs
External Link