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Dubai: Masdar, an Abu Dhabi company focused on developing environment-friendly energy solutions, and Japan's Cosmo Oil have signed a contract with the Tokyo Institute of Technology to develop a solar tower 'beam-down' technology that seeks to lower electricity generation costs.
The partnership involves joint research and the exchange of scientific information.
Masdar and Cosmo will invest millions of dollars in the beam-down research programme, paving the way for substantial technology transfer and the acquisition of intellectual property, a statement said.
The project will be overseen by the Masdar Research Network (MRN), Masdar's international research and development arm. As part of the agreement, a 100 kilowatt beam-down pilot plant will be built in Abu Dhabi by the end of 2008.
Solar thermal technology, a key research area for MRN, converts solar energy into electricity through a system of mirrors and turbines.
Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, said the partnership was a step forward in its relationship with the world's leading research institutions, and in Abu Dhabi's efforts to create expertise and jobs in renewable energy and bring technology to the region.
"Through Masdar, Abu Dhabi is extending its energy leadership to finding, developing and delivering clean energy solutions. MRN is a vital part of our mission, one that gives us access to the best thinking worldwide in renewable energy," he said.
"The Tokyo Institute of Technology offers truly world-class expertise in engineering, technology and environmental research, and Masdar is proud to be its partner."
Kenichi Iga, president of the Tokyo institute, said: "Tokyo Tech's solar tower beam-down technology is recognised as one of the world-class technologies in this area. Through this research project with Masdar, we hope to contribute significantly to the world's future energy supply and help train more researchers."
Long-term plan
Yaichi Kimura, president of Cosmo Oil, said the company's investment in the project is part of its long-term planning.
"Our involvement is an investment in the future and solar energy has the potential to play a major role in our non-oil business. Cosmo Oil has established a very close relationship with the UAE, especially with the emirate of Abu Dhabi, through mutual cooperation in education, culture, the environment and oil-related businesses for nearly 40 years."
MRN, together with industry partners, funds international energy research in collaboration with leading global scientific institutions, including the German Aero-space Centre (DLR) and Germany's Aachen University, the Imperial College London, Columbia University in New York, the University of Waterloo in Canada, CIEMAT in Spain and the Tokyo institute.
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