The two 20MW projects will represent the first solar capacity to be built in China's Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, set in northwestern Sichuan province.

Apple is essentially investing in projects already underway, with 2MW already installed at one of the arrays, and the full 40MW expected on-line in the fourth quarter of 2015. The projects will be co-owned by SunPower, Apple and local partner Sichuan Shengtian New Energy Development Co.