Bangalore: Harnessing of solar power will witness a new dimension in India, with the launch of a new initiative to push forward solar energy development through a first ever platform "Solar India 2007" to be held here on July 19 and 20. Organised by the Pune-based World Institute of Sustainable Energy (WISE), the two-day conference would catalyse development of an innovative and forward looking policy package to hasten the growth of solar power in the country on a much faster pace compared to the current progress.

WISE, in a release here said, a high-level core group would be formed to pursue the implementation of this policy package and explore regulatory avenues for market expansion through the State Electricity Regulatory Commission. Cumulative installation of solar photovoltaic in India remained stagnant at around 16 MW in 2005, while power from solar thermal concentrating technology was nil, the release said.