The China-based Trina Solar Co Ltd is supporting the growth of the global renewable energy by supplying PV products, smart micro-grid and multi-energy complementary systems. Since Trina Solar arrived in India, the company has shipped more than 8 GW of solar modules to the country, contributing significantly to the country's total installed solar capacity. In this interview with Rakesh Rao, Gaurav Mathur, India Head, Trina Solar, elaborates on the potential of renewable energy sector in India and the company's growth plans.

At Renewable Energy India Expo 2022, Trina Solar showcased its latest N-type technology for the solar PV module. What is the significance of this launch for the company and the industry?
As a leader of 210 technology and the first to produce N-type products with its own independent industrial chain, Trina Solar is fully committed to support the greater power generation capacity needed for a greener future.

The NEG21C.20 n-type module showcased at REI Expo 2022 is the culmination of Trina Solar’s extensive R&D effort, offering a maximum power output of 685W and up to 22.1 percent module efficiency to deliver high customer value, reliability, and energy yield at lower levelised costs of energy (LCOE) and balance of system (BOS) costs.

Could you please share more details about Trina Solar?
Trina Solar has been operating in India since 2010 and India is one of our most important markets. We are fully committed to India, having shipped more than 8GW of modules to the country since our inception, contributing significantly to the current total installed solar capacity.

We offer a holistic range of solar solutions to customers in this market, including all that we showcased during REI Expo 2022 such as the aforementioned NEG21C.20 and the Vertex 19R Series. Furthermore, TrinaTracker, a business unit of Trina Solar, also demoed the Vanguard 1p, a next-generation intelligent independent tracker, at the event.

How do you see the potential of the solar energy industry in India? Are we on track to achieve the 500 GW target by 2030?
India is among the countries which are the most supportive of solar and renewable energy in the world. At a recent conference, Union Science and Technology Minister Dr Jitendra Singh expressed confidence in India’s ability to reach the 500GW non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. Trina Solar is committed to supporting the government in its endeavors to meet its ambitious energy goals and empowering its journey to a greener future.

What are the key challenges before solar energy producers today? What solutions do you offer to them to overcome some of these challenges?
Cutting LCOE has always been a key driver in the rise of PV installed capacity and remains the ultimate goal of technological innovation in the PV industry.

Trina Solar has put forward the LCOE-oriented principle, that reducing LCOE in PV power stations with high power, high efficiency, high reliability and high energy yield. This is based on real-world experience including market trends to power industry growth to build a zero-carbon world.

Trina Solar's Vertex 600W+ module is a product that fully meets the four core requirements just mentioned and has also been proved in various PV power plants and by third parties.

Being the industry’s most bankable brand, Trina Solar can offer the industry’s only truly integrative solution of modules trackers, smart controls and energy storage to reduce EPC cost and risk, while at the same time unlocking the highest and most assured long term energy outcome for IPPs and long term asset owners.

To encourage local solar PV cells and modules manufacturing, the Government of India introduced import duties on solar cells and PV modules. What is your view on this move?
The tariff will increase the cost of deploying solar solutions. Because it is our company mission to boost renewable energy development around the world to create greater grid parity of PV power and popularise renewable energy, we hope our solutions remain accessible to our Indian customers.

Trina Solar is among the industry leading players that are offering high quality, reliable products at compelling prices that customers in India want. Currently, there are solar projects that are put on hold because the taxes are making such projects financially inviable, which effectively hampers the country’s ability to meet its renewable energy goals.

Will the PLI scheme - announced for manufacturing solar PV modules - give a boost to the local industry?
We cannot speak on behalf of other companies, but from an industry point of view, domestic manufacturers are also struggling with things like limited local manufacturing capacity, raw materials procurement and etc. The capacity and supply of raw materials are not meeting the current demands, and those who have access to raw materials have also expressed price concerns.

In addition to incentives such as PLI, which do not last forever, an open market that welcomes all players to participate in will help support India in its endeavor to meet its renewable energy goals.

What are your growth plans for Trina Solar?
Trina Solar is a leader of 210mm technology. The production capacity of solar cells and modules is expected to reach 50GW and 65GW by the end of this year, 90 per cent of that being 210 products. Trina Solar has also shipped more than 30GW of 210 modules.

The company will also continue to innovate and spearhead the development of 600W+ modules. Featuring the core advantages of high power, high efficiency, high energy yield and high reliability, Trina Solar’s 600W+ modules have created a new channel for lower LCOE, a key consideration among solar energy producers.

To supplement our internal 7GW per year tracker production capacity in China, we have decentralised our supply chain to overcome the current challenges from high shipping cost and import duties. We have qualified multiple local vendors in India for supply of all structural tracker items and have started doing the same in other markets like Australia, Vietnam, South Korea, the Middle East and South America. Trina Solar has also recently launched the Vertex DEG19R 575W module featuring the latest 210R rectangular silicon wafer technology we find unlocks a truly optimal tracker configuration and therefore lowers both supply and BOS cost.