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Dubai launches major initiative to harness solar energy

ECO3Economy/Economy/Energy/EnvironmentDubai launches major initiative to harness solar energyDubai, Oct 25 IANS As part of its efforts to reduce pollution and create alternative sources of energy to meet growing demand, the city of Dubai has launched a major initiative to harness solar energy.Chairman of the Dubai government's investment vehicle Dubai World Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem has launched Solar Technologies, the Middle East's largest photovoltaic manufacturing facility, in the course of the Green Dubai World Forum-2008, currently underway here.As part of the first phase of the project, a 130-MW manufacturing plant will be set up and it will go into production in the last quarter of 2010. Subsequently, Solar Technologies will establish similar manufacturing plants in China, Mexico and Bulgaria, which will increase the total production capacity to 1 GW by 2015."The potential of solar energy is unbelievable. The energy from sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to the global energy consumption for a whole year," Solar Technologies chief executive Dileep Rahulan said in a statement. "The mission of Solar Technologies is to accelerate the adoption of solar photo voltaic by rapidly expanding manufacturing capacity and significantly reducing the cost of solar modules through innovations and manufacturing excellence. We intend to become one of the largest solar photo voltaic module manufacturing units in the world over a period of time," he added.Green Dubai World Forum-2008 is being held to commemorate the first anniversary of the declaration on green Dubai made Oct 24 last year by Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.The forum will focus on key issues of global concern regarding sustainability, environmental problems and possible solutions.--Indo-Asian News Serviceab/sj/jg303 Words25101534