It is noteworthy that "PV steelmaking" has also been put on the agenda. US media recently reported that a secondary steelmaking plant operated by Colorado's second-largest steel maker Evraz in Colorado is shifting from coal to solar power, which is expected to become the nation's first 100% solar-powered refining plant. Steel mill.

In late September, Jefraz North America signed a cooperation agreement with American power company XcelEnergy and the largest solar developer BP's solar subsidiary BP (LightsourceBP) in Europe, which will jointly develop a value of 2.5 in Colorado. A multi-billion-dollar, 240-megawatt solar power facility designed to power Jefraz's Rocky Mountain steel plant. It is initially expected that this "photovoltaic steelmaking plant" will be launched in 2021, and it will be the largest on-site solar power generation project for a single customer in the United States.

XcelEnergy has been one of the most active U.S. utility companies in deploying renewable energy targets. The company's previous decision to close two coal-fired power plants in the Rocky Mountain region directly threatened the survival prospects of this low-cost electricity-based steelmaking plant. It mainly produces steel for railways, pipes and wire rods and has been around since the 1800s.

Light Source BP will be responsible for the financing, construction and operation of this solar power generation facility, and will sell all of its power to XcelEnergy under a long-term power purchase agreement. The fixed electricity price can be extended to 2041.

According to CNN report, California-based clean energy startup Heliogen has developed a new type of solar technology that uses artificial intelligence, which can generate high temperatures above 1000 degrees Celsius, and will be used in the manufacture of cement, steel, etc. In extremely hot industries.

As of now, the highest temperature designed for commercial concentrating solar thermal systems is only 565 degrees Celsius, which may be useful for power generation, but not enough for many industrial processes. Heliogen founder and CEO BillGross said that this technological breakthrough means that solar energy is expected to be used directly in industries that require extremely high heat such as cement and steel, and the production process will become more economical and environmentally friendly.