Trinasolar’s Comprehensive Sustainability Best Practices

Although today’s best practices for sustainability are primarily driven by decarbonization, evolving global policies centered on climate change have mandated a comprehensive approach to sustainability that addresses a company's end-to-end functions.

At the TaiyangNews Solar & Sustainability 2024 conference, Pia Alina Lange, Director of EU Public Affairs & Policy at Trinasolar, provided a brief overview of the company’s comprehensive sustainability practices (see Trinasolar presentation here). She also discussed the vertically integrated PV company’s sustainability principles and its progress in line with its roadmap.

Background

Lange opened her presentation by highlighting Trinasolar, a 26-year-old company with a presence in PV manufacturing, PV storage, smart grids, and green hydrogen production, and its core value of leading the way toward a net-zero future with smart solar energy solutions. In the last 5 years alone, the European Union (EU) legislative framework has shown how sustainability has expanded beyond decarbonization, as Lange pointed out with an example. She further noted that the EU legislative framework is based on 3 key pillars: social & governance, carbon footprint, and circularity – principles that have the most significant impact on businesses and products.

Aligning with this trend of sustainability extending beyond decarbonization, Trinasolar says it has committed to responsible business practices such as Sustainable manufacturing, Sustainable financing, and Sustainable product design. This comprehensive approach mandates the company to examine every aspect of sustainability, says Lange. From each stage of the value chain to every stakeholder group, the company considers its impact on responsible business practices.

Sustainable Product Design

Regarding product design and sustainability credentials, Trinasolar defines every part of its business, from supplier selection and management to energy and emission management at the production level, and to substance recovery during the end-of-life phase. According to Lange, beyond creating economic value, this sustainable product design approach can help address and even mitigate current challenges. She provided an example of the Vertex S+ series PV module, which generates additional output with reduced inputs, such as lower energy and water consumption, less toxic hazardous waste (resulting in a lower carbon footprint), and thinner glass with a dual-glass structure (requiring fewer raw materials). Additionally, this module saves up to 1 kg of plastic by replacing the backsheet or enabling easier separation of materials (enhancing circularity), added Lange.

Sustainable Manufacturing

The manufacturing phase is where most adverse impacts occur, but it also presents the best opportunities for sustainability, says Lange. Trinasolar’s green and zero-carbon factory concept saved more emissions than were produced during operations, resulting in carbon-negative operations. For example, between 2015 and 2021, the total carbon emissions from production, operation, and R&D at all Trinasolar manufacturing bases amounted to 4.48 million tons. However, during the same period, carbon emissions were reduced by up to 4.82 million tons, thanks to PV plants, green electricity purchases, energy conservation, and consumption reduction, noted Lange.

Aligned with its sustainable manufacturing approach, the company has set a 2030 sustainable development goal to save up to 1 billion kWh of electricity in global operations by 2030. Trinasolar is pursuing this goal by heavily investing in running 100% of its operations on renewable energy (RE), both through captive generation and the purchase of green electricity. In addition to decarbonization at the manufacturing level, the company also focuses heavily on resource efficiency and circularity. Aligned with its clear objective of achieving zero waste landfills by 2030, Trinasolar claims to havehas already recycled more than 94% of waste at the operational level, while contributing to industry initiatives promoting the circularity and recyclability of its products, revealed Lange. For example, at the Chuzhou Storage Factory, Trinasolar says it saved approximately 16.49 million tons of steam condensate and exchanged heat for cooling water, resulting in significant GHG emission reductions and less consumption of tap water.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Additionally, corporate social responsibility (CSR), the third key pillar of sustainability, is based on the principles of the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights. Accordingly, Trinasolar’s internal code of conduct outlines expectations for both the company and its suppliers, particularly in areas such as ethical business conduct, human rights, integrity, as well as diversity, fairness, and inclusivity, explained Lange. One of the most important achievements, says Lange, is the Level 5 blockchain-based traceability system, which allows the company to trace a module back to its raw material extraction source – something the company is particularly proud of.

Sustainable Finance

Lange emphasized the importance of robust financial figures in driving sustainability and the green energy transition. Realistically, for renewable energy projects to materialize, developers need funding, and banks must make informed decisions based on the bankability of component manufacturers. She also highlighted that thanks to Trinasolar’s sustainability investments, its PV modules are certified against various standards and have ranked as top performers in multiple industry awards.

On April 10 and 11, 2025, TaiyangNews will hold the TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2025, an in-person event in New Delhi. It will bring together technologists and scientists working on creating a resilient solar manufacturing industry in India. Registrations are open here.