- Trina Solar has unveiled a major industrial project which will get it into the entire industrial solar PV value chain
- It aims to produce 10 GW of wafer capacity annually along with 300,000 ton industrial silicon and 15 GW of BOM, by 2025
- To be achieved in phases, plans also involve establishing annual capacities of 35 GW monocrystalline silicon, 150,000 tons high-purity polysilicon, 10 GW cell and 10 GW module capacity in Xining, Qinghai
- Trina says plans guided by the need to improve its competitiveness in n-type technology and optimize the industrial chain
Currently present in the solar PV production space with a focus on cells and modules as well as trackers and battery storage on BOS side, Trina Solar has now announced plans to get very deep into the silicon value chain to establish 10 GW of annual wafering capacity, 300,000 ton industrial silicon and 15 GW of balance of materials (BOM).
Along with the above, the Chinese manufacturer also wants to produce 35 GW of monocrystalline silicon annually, 150,000 tons of high-purity polysilicon, 10 GW solar cell and 10 GW of module capacity at the Trina Solar (Xining) Economic and Technological Development Zone in Xining, China.
In a stock exchange announcement, the management says it has signed agreements with Xining Municipal People’s Government to set up the industrial project in Xining, Qinghai. The proposal needs to be reviewed and approved by the company’s shareholders.
In Phase I, Trina Solar expects to construct annual capacity of:
- 100,000 tons of industrial silicon,
- 50,000 tons of high purity polysilicon,
- 20 GW monocrystalline silicon,
- 5 GW wafers,
- 5 GW cells,
- 5 GW modules and
- 7.5 GW BOM.
Construction of all this capacity will be complete by the end of 2023.
Phase II will be followed by the construction of an annual output of:
- 200,000 tons of industrial silicon,
- 100,000 tons of high purity polysilicon,
- 15 GW of monocrystalline silicon,
- 5 GW wafers,
- 5 GW cells,
- 5 GW modules and
- 7.5 GW BOM production lines.
Its timeline is 2025-end.
All of the above 7 individual projects will enter construction in 2022. While this is the broad plan, Trina said it will adjust the implementation schedule according to market conditions.
For Trina Solar, this proposed investment is aimed at further improving its competitive position in the field of industrializing next-generation n-type technology and optimize the industrial chain. Management also sees this helping it strengthen its main business while diversifying into new business areas.
Considering the market dynamics over the last 2 years when the global solar PV industry suffered with raw material supply shortages and logistical challenges that left many companies with ballooning expenses, it should make sense for a PV manufacturer with deep pockets like Trina Solar to get into the entire integrated value chain.
Its competitor and the world’s largest PV manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology is already into wafer, cell and module manufacturing – and recently even expanded into electrolyzer manufacturing for green hydrogen. Many Tier 1 Chinese solar module manufacturers recently expanded their wafer production shares.
Trina said it will look into arranging funds for the project through debt and equity.
At the end of 2021, Trina’s cell production capacity was 35 GW and module capacity 50 GW. It aims to expand its capacity by the end of 2022 to 50 GW and 65 GW, respectively (see Trina Solar Declares 2021 Financial Results).
