DuPont announced last week that it completed the largest photovoltaic rooftop installation in China. The company’s subsidiary, DuPont Apollo, Ltd., which operates in China, worked with China Everbright International, Ltd. to complete the 1.3 megawatt, thin-film photovoltaic system.

DuPont Apollo made the thin-film panels installed on the rooftop of its production facility in Guangming New District, Shenzhen, said DuPont spokesperson Daniel Turner.

According to DuPont, it is the largest single structure thin-film in China to date. The company said the installation covers 23,000 square feet of the plant’s roof.

While it’s the largest in China, it’s not the first.

“There have been others. A couple months ago, we issued a news release about another rooftop installation in China,” he said.

Everbright served as the contractor for the Everbright-DuPont Apollo Photovoltaic Energy Golden Sun Demonstration Project.

The array is made of 13,000 of its amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin-film modules.

On an annual basis, the system should generate approximately 1.5 million kilowatt hours, the company said. Installation of the system began in July and took about 5 months to complete.

In a press release, David Chu, DuPont Apollo CEO said, “We hope this project will be a role model for other businesses that wish to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels by generating the electricity they need on their own rooftops.”

Although it’s not certain, this is likely one of a growing number of Chinese warehouse rooftops that will soon be covered with solar power.

The country’s solar industry, which has been bolstered by more than $10 billion in funds from the state this year, is growing rapidly, with both domestic and international companies looking to expand into the country’s huge production potential and low labor costs.

Ultimately China could dominate the worldwide PV market and become the chief exporter of solar modules. Still, U.S.-based companies like DuPont and First Solar are making inroads into the country.

First Solar has plans to develop a 2 gigawatt PV farm in inner Mongolia, but that project continues to be held up as local companies are attempting to win the project even after First Solar was selected as the project’s developer.

Image courtesy of Dupont Apollo.