PARIS, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- French energy giant Total announced Tuesday its signing on an agreement over development of solar power utilization with the American research university the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    The agreement, worth four million US dollars over five years, aims to develop new stationary batteries that are designed to enable the storage of solar power, the company declared in a statement.

    The joint project will mainly put focus on "development of a low-cost, long-life battery" which can store the "power generated by solar panels," Total said.

    The energy giant hails the cooperation "a major step forward" in its research and development efforts of developing alternative energy source.

    Total debuted its solar power activity since 1983 through its interest in Tenesol and Photovoltech companies, which specialize in manufacturing photovoltaic solar modules and other special components related to solar power.