Air Products today announced it has signed a contract to provide gases and equipment to China's Best Solar Hi Tech Co., Ltd, which is building a new thin-film photovoltaic plant in China.

When the facility comes on-stream at its full capacity, it will be one of the largest thin-film solar panel plants in the world.

The contract includes the long-term supply of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, and other specialty gases used to make solar panels.

Best Solar's modules convert sunlight directly into electricity. This contract marks Air Products' largest investment in the emerging thin-film photovoltaic industry and complements its existing crystalline photovoltaic offerings.

Thin film solar panels cost less to produce and are most likely used in large solar farms that cover vast expanses of land to produce energy for multiple users. Crystalline photovoltaic panels are best suited for rooftop applications that serve the energy needs of the underlying building.

Air Products, one of the Lehigh Valley's largest employers, sees the growing solar energy market as a key sector to fuel company growth.