Martin Li
A ROOFTOP solar energy electricity generation system started operating in Guangming New Zone yesterday, marking a step forward in the development of the new energy industry in Shenzhen.
The system is installed on the 23,000-square-meter rooftop of the main building of a photo voltaic thin film factory owned by DuPont Apollo Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the chemical industry giant, DuPont.
The largest single structure thin-film photo voltaic rooftop installation in China to date, the system comprises 13,000 photo voltaic thin film modules which can generate 1.48 million kWh of electricity each year with an installed capacity of 1.3 MW.
The environmentally friendly rooftop solar system can save 542 tons of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1,480 tons a year.
The system will supply electricity for the daily operations of the DuPont factory.
The rooftop electric system will not create any waste, emissions or noise, and would neither be a safety issue, said Zhu Ketai, CEO of DuPont Apollo.
We hope to set an example for companies determined to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by making better use of solar energy, Zhu said.
The solar electric system is a collaboration between DuPont Apollo and Everbright Environmental Protection Engineering (Shenzhen) Ltd., a big player in the domestic new energy industry.
There is huge potential in exploring renewable energy sources on the Chinese mainland, which has realized the significance of environmental protection and sustainable development, said Chen Xiaoping, CEO of Everbright.
The project has been listed as a Golden Sun Demonstration Project, a State subsidiary list of outstanding photo voltaic power technology.
Listed projects will receive a government subsidiary equivalent to half of their total investment.
DuPont opened its photo voltaic thin film factory facility in Shenzhen last year. It is the first project initiated under the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle, which was spearheaded by the Shenzhen and HKSAR governments in 2007.
DuPont opened the first Global Photo Voltaic Thin Film R&D Center at the Hong Kong Science Park in March with the aim of ultimately forming an R&D hub in Hong Kong, with Shenzhen as the manufacturing base.
Photo voltaic thin film is innovative technology used in solar panels to convert sunlight into electricity. It is easy to install and can be used on residential and commercial rooftops and windows, as well as on curtain walls and for solar farm applications.
