As India basks in the radiant glow of a solar energy boom, multiple players from both global and domestic markets are positioning themselves to harness the immense potential that lies in this sector. Our exclusive interview with Mr. Todd Li, President APAC, Trina Solar promises a deep dive into strategic insights and initiatives that define the organisation’s approach in India.
The discussions shed light on the key opportunities presented by India's ambitious renewable energy targets as well as the steps required to navigate the challenges hindering widespread adoption. We discuss their latest innovations tailored for the Indian market that include their cutting-edge Vertex N modules and the Vanguard 1P tracker. The conversation extends to the rapidly evolving technological landscape and the crucial aspect of balancing solar panel pricing for wider accessibility in India.
Mr. Li shares his perspective on necessary policy changes and interventions and also gives a glimpse into their future plans for the Indian market, featuring recent agreements and projects. In a final message to businesses and individuals contemplating the transition to solar energy, he conveys Trina Solar's unwavering commitment to 'Solar Energy for All,' emphasizing the company's integrated solutions, technological innovation, and collaborative approach to propel India towards a net-zero future.
Read the full interview for deeper insights on one of the most promising sectors of the future:
Q. India has seen a significant growth in solar energy adoption in recent years. From Trina Solar's perspective, what are the key opportunities that the Indian solar sector presents, and how is Trina Solar capitalizing on these opportunities?
A. India recognises the value of clean, stable, and cost-effective solar energy. It is, thus, the third largest country in Asia for solar energy, with an ambitious target of adding 50GW of renewable energy annually. According to the market reports, India may add 250GW of renewable power in the next five years, which represents a huge increase in solar energy capacity.
Trina Solar is a well-known smart energy total solutions provider globally as well as in India. Given the ambitious targets set by the Government, our outlook for this market remains positive. We will continue to promote the growth of clean energy in India through technological innovation.
We have also seen a growing demand for solar energy in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors. Trina Solar is responsive to the needs of the market and thus we will allocate our module capacity and bring in more innovative solar PV products and solutions to meet customers’ needs.
Q. Navigating the solar sector in a diverse market like India can be challenging. What, in your opinion, are the major challenges hindering the widespread adoption of solar energy in the country, and how is Trina Solar addressing these challenges?
A. India, due to its favourable geography, has a tremendous potential for solar energy. However, implementation of trade barriers creates a demand-supply gap due to over-reliance on local production – making it challenging to meet the local demand. Also, the India solar industry needs to be internationally competitive. Participation of global players in the domestic solar industry helps see that module prices do not become an impediment in the widespread adoption of solar energy.
Q. Could you share some insights into the latest innovations and advancements that the company has introduced, specifically tailored for the Indian market?
A. We recently introduced new Vertex N modules powered by advanced i-TOPCon technology in India. This market-leading technology is the result of Trina Solar's commitment to support India’s ambitious energy demands.
Trina Solar has developed cutting-edge n-type TOPCon PV cells with remarkable efficiency rates and exceptional reliability, enabling the Vertex N modules to deliver superior performance, especially in challenging environmental conditions like high temperatures and low light. Thei-TOPCon powered modules are ideal for solar commercial, industrial, and utility-scale projects in India.
In order to offer smart solar energy solutions, we have also introduced Vanguard 1P tracker in India. Traditionally, India has been a fix-tilt market, but the tracker solutions are gaining popularity, especially in southern and western India. Vanguard 1Pallows modules to generate up to 30% more solar energy than conventional systems.It is highly reliable and easier to install than traditional trackers in varied terrain – a characteristic of India.
Based on the demands of the market, Trina Solar will continue tobuildits capability and support India in achieving in renewable energy targets.
Q. Sustainability is a crucial aspect for today's businesses. Are there any specific initiatives or services that you provide to help businesses in India achieve their sustainability goals through solar energy?
A. Trina Solar is a smart solar energy solutions provider, founded with the mission of benefiting mankind through solar energy.
Our products, such as solar modules, trackers, and smart storage solution,have been designed to provide businesses in India with a net-zero source of electricity. But we, as a company, are working towards having net-zero manufacturing operations and a net-zero supply chain – reducing carbons emissions for the benefit of businesses and the society
Moreover, our ‘customer-first’ approach makes us the preferred partner for developers in India. We have earned the reputation for being able to deliver on volume. For instance, in India, we have strong customer relationships and are known for our high standard of after-sales service. Our customers like the fact that our staff have remained with Trina Solar for more than seven years.
In the future, we will continue to collaborate with our stakeholders to support global decarbonisation initiatives and widespread adoption of solar energy.
Q. The pricing of solar panels is often a concern for businesses and consumers. How is Trina Solar working to balance the pricing of solar panels to make them more accessible and affordable for a wider demographic in India?
A. India is a price sensitive market and solar modules can be competitive, in terms of pricing, product, and innovation. As a global player in solar PV manufacturing, we believe in a customer centric approach, i.e., tackling customer challenges by offering smart solar solutions. Thus, we offer a wide range of solar PV modules to suit the varying needs and budgetary constraints of the customer.
We have also diversified our product portfolio to offer integrated solutions such as trackers, and storage.
Backed by a network of local reliable partners in India, this is a key differentiator for us in the market that unlocks maximum customer value, enabling better adoption of solar energy.
Q. The solar industry is dynamic and constantly evolving. How does Trina Solar stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology and market trends? Are there any emerging technologies or trends that you believe will shape the future of solar energy in India?
A. When we speak of evolving technology in the solar industry, a transition is currently underway. The market is migrating from p-type mono PERC modules ton-type i-TOPCon technology. The i-TOPCon, also known as the tunnel oxide passivated contact technology, increases the solar cell’s efficiency. Our Vertex N modules are powered by i-TOPCon Advanced technology.
Besides i-TOPCon, another key trend is the use of bi-facial modules coupled with trackers. India used to be a fixed-tilt market because mono-facial modules are cheaper. But it has been proven that the additional energy gained from the backside of the module provides a greater return on investment (ROI).
Another key trend is the growing significance of energy storage. At present, Trina Solar is working to close the first sale of the Elementa energy storage system in India.
Lastly, the global solar industry is also working to standardize the size of modules, to bring the industry closer together to drive collaborative research and development. Trina Solar is famous for leading the standardization of module size to a 2384x1134mm format. This format size, referred to colloquially as ‘golden size’ modules, helps to boost performance dramatically. It also reduces balance of system costs (BOS) and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) because, for example, more modules can fit on each tracker.
Q. Collaboration is key in the renewable energy sector. Are there any notable collaborations or partnerships that Trina Solar has established in India to enhance the adoption of solar energy? How do these collaborations benefit both Trina Solar and the Indian solar industry as a whole?
A. Trina Solar is bullish about India’s energy sector growth story. Currently, India is planning to set up a capacity of at least 5 million tonne (MT) per annum by 2030, which will lead to renewable energy capacity addition of around 125GW to achieve Net Zero.In India, people are talking about Green Hydrogen and Ammonia and RTC power with many future tenders focusing on battery storage systems.
As such, to enhance the widespread adoption of renewable energy, we go beyondoffering modules for IPPs or developers – our comprehensive solutions include trackers and storage solutions. Our involvement in energy storage, backed by a significant in-house battery cell manufacturing capacity, provides IPPs with containerized storage solutions. Trina Solar is fully geared to cater to this growing market.
In addition, we also have an electrolyser manufacturing unit in China. Very soon you will also see Trina Solar selling electrolysers in the global market. Our capacity in the electrolyser segment will also be very huge, in GWhs, to start with. In India, we are talking to a few developers who are setting up Green Hydrogen capacities.
Q. In your opinion, what policy changes or interventions are necessary from the Indian government to further promote the solar sector? What recommendations would you give to policymakers to accelerate the adoption of solar energy in the country?
A. Trina Solar has been in India for around 13 years now and we are committed to the market and ensuring full compliance to regulations set by the government. We are not a new player in India and have a longstanding presence here. We are supporting the Indian solar industry by supplying them with high-quality and the latest technology available in the market.
Q. Looking forward, what are Trina Solar's future plans for the Indian market? Are there any upcoming projects, partnerships, or initiatives that you can share, which will contribute to the advancement of solar energy in India?
A. This year, we have signed numerous agreements, especially in the utility-scale segment. We recently concluded a project with a leading solar company in India supplying modules worth 160MW.
Q. Lastly, what message would you like to convey to businesses and individuals in India who are considering transitioning to solar energy? How can Trina Solar support them in this journey towards a sustainable future?
A. Trina Solar is committed to its mission of ‘Solar Energy for All’ and continues to offer integrated solutions. At present, we are the only solar manufacturer that makes trackers and energy storage systems, alongside our state-of-the-art modules.
Our commitment has been backed by our ever-evolving technological innovation. Our Vertex N modules, for instance,has been designed with n-type i-TOPCon Advanced Technology, leading the market into the 700W+ era.
With our innovative product suite, we look forward to collaborating with global stakeholders, including India, facilitating the transformation of new power systems and achieve shared growth to attain a net-zero future.
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