Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a global leader in photovoltaic modules, solutions and services, today announced that the Company’s State Key Laboratory of PV Science and Technology has received accreditation from China’s Ministry of Science and Technology.
The laboratory, covering 15,000 square metres and located within the Changzhou Trina PV Industrial Park, will be a national platform for driving PV technological development in China. Its mandate includes research into PV materials, cell and module technologies, and system level performance. The facility will also bring together technical capabilities from the Company’s strategic partners, including customers and key PV component suppliers, as well as universities and research institutions. The facility aims to continue to improve the energy conversion efficiency, durability and ease of installation of PV modules, and to advance the sector as a whole.
“We are excited to receive accreditation for this world class national laboratory in the Changzhou Trina PV Industrial Park,” said Mr. Jifan Gao, Trina Solar’s Chairman and CEO. “This demonstrates government recognition for Trina Solar’s achievements since the inception of our PV laboratory. It further demonstrates Trina Solar’s capabilities and competency to undertake national and international PV research projects. The laboratory will advance technological innovations to support the burgeoning industry, as well as accelerate Trina Solar’s R&D, technology transfer and new product development goals to enhance the Company’s high quality product offerings.”
Mr. Gao added, “We remain committed to investing in innovation and R&D to promote the on-going development of China’s solar industry. As a State Key Laboratory, this facility provides a more powerful platform for technical innovation, which we intend to leverage to further boost innovation, develop unique products, localize core technologies and equipment, decrease operating costs and improve competiveness. In doing so we hope to continuously contribute to the promulgation of the use of solar energy at a lower price, higher reliability and greater coverage worldwide.”
The plan to establish the laboratory was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2010, and has been selected by the World Economic Forum as a case study illustrating how corporates and government can collaborate to promote, support and invest in innovation and technological development. The facility also received independent accreditation as a CTDP (Client Test Data Program) testing centre by Underwriters Laboratories (“UL”) in 2012.
The facility, staffed by international leading talents from China, the US, Japan, Australia and other countries, has successfully collaborated with a range of industry and academic partners, and has participated in the establishment of 27 industry standards. Furthermore before accreditation was received, the company had applied for 910 patents of which 423 are inventions, continuing Trina Solar’s position as the industry leader in indigenous IP applications.
Through the scientific research undertaken at the State Key Laboratory of PV Science and Technology, Trina Solar hopes to promote the positive development of the solar industry. As one example, the facility developed and successfully launched the pilot commercial production of Trina Solar’s P-type crystallized-silicon Honey Ultra modules, achieving solar cell efficiency of 20.54 percent. The polycrystalline modules developed based on the Honey cell technology set world records in polycrystalline silicon module output power in both 2011 and 2012, helping to consolidate Trina Solar’s leading position in the PV industry. In March 2013, the facility achieved mass production for a new range of BIPV components featuring high reliability, long life expectancy and easy installation. The laboratory’s research achievements into cells with high performance to price ratios, efficiency levels and reliability can be seen across a range of different metrics.
