Tata Power, one of India’s leading integrated power companies, in conjunction with the Tamil Nadu Government has completed a ‘state of the art’ greenfield 4GW Solar Cell and 4GW Solar Module manufacturing plant at Tirunelveli District in Tamilnadu, India. The investment is reported to be INR 3,000 crores (circa £280 million).
The new manufacturing facility, which commenced manufacturing in September 2024 with a 4GW annual capacity, will produce photovoltaic cells and modules for solar power generating units. The manufacturing facility will also produce some of the raw materials Ethylene-vinyl acetate and Photovoltaics needed for module manufacturing. The Tamilnadu project will support the rising demand for solar energy in the country and contribute towards reducing India’s carbon footprint. The increased adoption of renewable energy sources will also help in reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, making a significant positive impact on the environment.
So, where do Glass-Fused-to-Steel tanks fit in?
As the world shifts towards renewable energy sources like solar power, it’s crucial to assess and
mitigate the environmental impact the solar panel manufacturing process has on the environment, particularly its level of water usage.
The solar panel manufacturing process involves multiple stages, each demanding the use of a substantial amount of water. From the refining of raw materials to fabricating solar cells and assembling modules, water intensive processes such as chemical washing and rinsing, cooling and lubrication are integral throughout the manufacturing process.
As a result, with the containment and treatment of the plant’s process water requiring an engineered solution due to the contents acidity levels, PERMASTORE® high-quality Fusion® Glass-Fused-to-Steel (GFtS) coated bolted tanks were chosen for the project. The tanks specified and installed were subsequently designed to cope with the harsh manufacturing
process environment whilst delivering low levels of maintenance over their service life.
The engineering design expertise along with the durability and resilience of Permastore’s ISOFUSION® V700 glass coating is designed to deliver a long operational life span.
Project achievements
- High performance Glass-Fused-to-Steel quality & engineering design affording a long service life.
- Low maintenance requirement throughout a tank’s service life.
- A Modular bolted solution that achieves fast installation – reduced build time and cost.
The project included four PERMASTORE® tanks in total (2×15,000m3 and 2x 2,000m3) marketed and installed by partners M/s G.E.T.WATER SOLUTIONS PVT LTD, Chennai, India in a record time to the satisfaction of Tata power.
By choosing Permastore, Tata Power (TPREL) has selected a solution that offers engineered designed resilience and a long service life that is aimed at reducing the potential periods of extended plant down-time and operating costs.