China's largest product line for solar-energy batteries has been set up in Shanghai, and is expected to ease the power shortage in the country's biggest industrial and financial center.

Shanghai Solar Energy Technology Co. invested 60 million yuan (about US$7.2 million) in the new production line, which is due to go into production in October.

The line is expected to turn out products with a capacity of 10 megawatts, about 50 percent of the total solar-energy productivity in the country.

At present, solar-energy lanterns, caution lights on expressway and garden lights are widely used in Shanghai.

Special solar-energy houses, featuring low energy construction and environment-friendly running, will be built in the city this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2003)