Solar power can help steel companies cut production costs by up to 10%, especially in standalone electric arc furnace (EAF) operations, according to a report by Ember.

Direct reduced iron-arc furnace (DRI-EAF) steelmaking can see 2–5% savings. High grid power costs make solar a viable alternative, with the steel sector alone contributing a 9.4 GW opportunity. Though aluminium and cement industries rely on captive coal power, they still present an 11 GW solar open-access potential. Odisha and Chhattisgarh, key industrial hubs, account for over 40% of the 20 GW opportunity, thanks to recent open access policy incentives. The shift to renewables could position these regions as green manufacturing hubs and attract global climate investments.