Saltwater batteries are capable of storing enough energy to power a building for two days. (Pobl/SPECIFIC/Swansea University)

A new solar project, called SUNRISE, will develop printed photovoltaic cells and new manufacturing processes that can be used to construct solar energy products in India. These will then be integrated into buildings in five villages, allowing them to harness solar power to provide their own energy and run off-grid. The plan is to encourage local industries to manufacture affordable prefabricated buildings that can generate, store, and release their own power.

Electricity is generated by a steel roof with integrated solar cells that is connected to two saltwater batteries capable of storing enough energy to power the building for two days. The building uses perforated steel cladding for generation of solar heat energy, which can be stored in a water-based system.

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