Trina Solar Brings Advanced Solar Innovations to Vietnam, Demonstrates Commitment to Empowering Renewable Sector

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, May 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Trina Solar, a global leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions, has been steadily ramping up production at its manufacturing facility in northern Vietnam, demonstrating its commitment to the local market.

When the US$203 million factory in the northern city of Thai Nguyen started production last August it had 700 workers and was producing its industry-leading 210mm monocrystalline silicon wafers. Since then, the workforce has more than doubled to 1,500 workers and the factory is now also producing solar cells and modules; representing more advanced stages of value-added manufacturing.

The facility is now steadily ramping up to its maximum annual production capacity: 6.5GW of wafers, 4GW solar cells and 5GW modules.

"Trina Solar is unique in this market because we not only sell solar products in Vietnam, we manufacture here as well," says Elva Wang, Head of South East Asia, Trina Solar Asia Pacific. "Our Vietnam factory is our largest outside China and is doing high value, advanced manufacturing such as turning wafers into solar cells as well as module assembling."

"Trina Solar's high-performance Vertex modules manufactured in Vietnam are sold locally and throughout Asia and the world."

"We employ 1,500 workers directly at our factory in Thai Nguyen, but create thousands more jobs indirectly, both upstream - through our use of local suppliers - and downstream as our products are marketed, distributed and installed throughout the country," she adds.

Some of Vietnam's largest utility-scale as well as commercial and industrial (C&I) solar projects are powered by Trina Solar modules. Utility-scale projects powered by Trina Solar Vertex modules include the 51MW Dam Tra O floating solar farm, in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh, and the 49MW Vinh Long ground-mounted solar farm near the southern tip of Vietnam.

"Trina Solar modules use dual-glass, useful for challenging environments like these where proximity to the sea means higher humidity and salt spray," says Wang.

"Solar energy is the right choice for Vietnam because it's proven technology that can be quickly and readily deployed, even in challenging sites," she adds.

Vietnam's transition to renewable energy comes as the country's electricity needs continue to increase due to strong economic growth projected at 5-7% per annum over the coming years. 

Under Vietnam's Power Development Plan VIII, the country is looking to phase out coal-fired power generation by 2050 and increase solar power installed capacity to account for 34%, up from 23% in 2022. The Power Development Plan also forecasts that energy storage will increase to 300 MWh by 2030 and 26 GWh by 2050.

Trina Solar is unique in the global solar market because it is only company that provides truly integrated solar solutions incorporating modules, trackers and energy storage solutions. No other solar module manufacturer makes trackers and energy storage solutions.

Combining modules, trackers and energy storage delivers a lower levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and lower balance of system (BOS) costs.

Trina Solar's higher-efficiency and higher-power-output n-type i-TOPCon Advanced Cell technology Vertex series modules deliver lower BOS costs, with overall high power, high efficiency, high reliability and high energy yield. For example, the Vertex N 625W (NEG19RC.20) and Vertex N 720W (NEG21C.20) are versatile options for application in utility and C&I scenarios with its golden-sized design adopted as industry standard, and high module efficiency at 23.1% and 23.2% respectively. In fact, 26,554 Vertex double-glass bifacial modules have been installed on the company's own Vietnam cell and module factory in the Thai Nguyen province. The 12.6MW project was connected to the grid on 6 December last year, and is expected to generate an average annual power output of approximately 11.29 million kilowatt hours, satisfying the entire factory's annual electricity demands.

Combining bifacial modules with TrinaTracker Vanguard 1P and 2P trackers, meanwhile, provides additional power. These dynamic trackers follow the movement of the sun and can harvest much more sunlight throughout the day. On a typical sunny day for an installation on sandy ground surface, bifacial modules on trackers significantly outperform the energy output of a standard fixed-tilt ground mounted system. The company's new-generation trackers have a motorised system, reducing the number of mechanical parts, which means the trackers are quicker to install and have lower maintenance costs over the product's lifecycle.

The Vanguard 1P and 2P trackers also provide additional energy yield because these are 'smart trackers' that uses sensors to capture data as well as sophisticated algorithms to determine the best angles to tilt the modules to maximize light capture and thus power generation. 

In energy storage, Trina Storage recently launched the 4.07MWh Elementa 2 battery energy storage system (BESS) that can fit inside a standard 20ft-long shipping container for easy transportation. The new generation liquid-cooled energy storage system has lithium iron phosphate cells developed in-house and is an advanced energy storage solution for various applications. As Trina Solar continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities and strengthen its presence in Vietnam, the company remains dedicated to driving the country's renewable energy agenda forward. With its high-performance solar products and total solutions, Trina Solar is poised to play a pivotal role in Vietnam's journey towards a sustainable and energy-efficient future. As the company looks ahead, it remains committed to fostering partnerships, creating job opportunities, and contributing to the growth and development of Vietnam's solar industry.

About Trina Solar

Founded in 1997, Trina Solar Co., Ltd. (stock symbol: Trina Solar; stock code: 688599) is mainly engaged in PV products, PV systems and smart energy. PV products include R&D, production and sales of PV modules. PV systems consist of power stations and system products. Smart energy mainly comprises PV power generation and operation & maintenance, smart solutions for energy storage, smart microgrid, and development and sales of multi-energy systems. With the strategic goal of "Creating a new industrial ecosystem led by Trina Solar, and promoting Trina Solar as a leader in smart PV and energy storage solutions ", we are committed to leading the way in smart PV and energy storage solutions and facilitating the transformation of new power systems for a net-zero future. On June 10, 2020, Trina Solar was listed on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (STAR Market) of the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE). It is the first PV and energy storage company that has gone public on the STAR Market providing PV products and systems, as well as smart energy.