Systematic modelling of barriers to solar energy integration in coal-intensive steel manufacturing settings: a case study in India

Abstract India’s coal supplies are becoming low, hence a switch to renewable energy is required. Strategic planning and investment in renewable energy are urgently needed to ensure energy security and reduce environmental effect, given the growing demand and environmental concerns. In India, one of the biggest users of coal is the steel industry. Even with the country’s increased attention to renewable energy, there is still a gap between the state of renewable energy sources now and what the coal-intensive steel industries anticipate for them in the future. Therefore, in order for the industry to overcome these obstacles, impediments to adopting solar energy as a green source must be investigated. The purpose of this article is to model the obstacles that prevent solar energy from being used in India’s coal-intensive steel industries. The interpretive structural modelling method is used to establish interrelationships within the barriers. The findings of this study indicate that the Indian solar energy model is indicative of a complex transition towards solar energy, which would necessitate an integrative approach, including government support, financial assistance, and infrastructural development.