Trina Solar Adding Significant Solar Cell and Module Capacity for Large Area ‘Vertex’ Series

PV TechAugust 21, 20201239

Summary:

Trina Solar Adds more capacity for both a solar cell and solar module capacity for the latest Large Area ‘Vertex’ Series.

Main Article:

Trina Solar Adding Significant Solar Cell and Module Capacity for Large Area ‘Vertex’ Series

‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member Trina Solar is planning its first major solar cell manufacturing expansion in recent years, driven by its migration to large-area solar modules using the 210mm solar wafer size as it ramps production of its high-performance mainstream ‘Vertex’ Series solar modules in 2021 onwards. 

The SMSL member had recently highlighted that its new Vertex series solar module manufacturing capacity ramp would start in the fourth quarter of 2020 with a planned nameplate capacity of 10GW, ramping to 21GW in 2021 and top 31GW in 2022.

The last official figures, revealed before Trina Solar de-listed from the NYSE, had solar panel capacity to reach 6GW by the end of 2016. With Trina Solar’s Chinese IPO earlier this year, the solar company reported solar panel capacity figures of almost 8.5GW in 2019. 

Based upon the 2019 IPO data, coupled to the latest solar module assembly expansion plans that are dedicated to the Vertex capacity ramp, Trina Solar is currently estimated to reach a total solar module assembly nameplate solar panel capacity of almost 39.5GW by the end of 2022.

However, Trina Solar has recently updated its plans for in-house mono-PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) solar cell capacity expansions related to the 210mm solar wafer size. This predominantly means solar cell production lines capable of processing the largest-area solar wafers in the market, requiring a major round of capital expenditure, compared to the companies previous ‘asset-lite’ manufacturing model.

The solar company said that it would add 7.6GW in annual new 210mm capable cell line capacity at its production plant in Yancheng, China, while upgrading a further 2.4GW of cell capacity at the site to process 210mm solar wafers, an initial 10GW of nameplate capacity dedicated to Vertex module needs. 

With solar cell and solar panel capacity in Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, Trina Solar said it would expand solar cell capacity by a further 2.5GW at facilities outside China. 

Although not disclosing further site-specific cell expansion plans and upgrades, Trina Solar expects further increases in solar cell production capacity take place, equating to a total of 26GW of in-house cell capacity by the end of 2021. Approximately 70% of this total will be 210mm (Vertex) cell capacity. 

This would also equate to around 18GW of Vertex-based cell capacity by the end of 2021, combined with around 21GW of Vertex solar module assembly capacity.

Historically, Trina Solar has followed an asset-lite manufacturing footprint, which included limited in-house ingot/wafer production, while relying on merchant cell producers for 1GW to 3GW-plus of external solar cell sourcing, due to higher in-house solar module assembly. 

Although the cell expansions are significant, having had around 6GW of in-house solar cell capacity at the end of 2016, Trina Solar has still not abandoned the asset-lite model. Solar module shipments in 2019 were around 10GW.

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