On March 20, at the 10th China Energy Development and Innovation Conference, Trina Solar unveiled its latest high-value product solution aimed at the Shagao Desert Base. This solution is designed entirely around the needs of a market-oriented electricity sector, fundamentally restructuring the design and investment return logic of photovoltaic power stations. By focusing on minimizing levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), enhancing reliability against strong winds and sand, and ensuring efficient operation and maintenance, it lays three essential foundations to maximize revenue from electricity market transactions. This will help achieve the dual goals of increasing both the quantity and quality of photovoltaic power generation.
Dr. Zhang Yingbin, head of global products, strategy, and marketing at Trina Solar, highlighted that the product solution, which combines the i-TOPCon Ultra modules with Trina’s tracking system, meets the specific photovoltaic application needs of large-scale bases. Through high overall efficiency, low irradiation energy generation advantages, and optimized tracking support algorithms, this solution enhances the energy output per watt and the total energy generated over the system’s lifecycle. By maximizing energy production during high-price periods and lowering balance of system (BOS) costs, it achieves a lower LCOE.
Compared to a combination of BC products and industry-standard 1P tracking systems, Trina Solar’s large-scale solution increases system value by 0.126 yuan per watt and reduces LCOE by 4.37%. This results in potential annual gains of up to 2.396 million yuan for a 100 MW power station, providing customers with greater benefits.
With its abundant solar resources, the Shagao area is a prime choice for large-scale ground-mounted solar projects. According to relevant planning, it is expected that by 2030, the total scale of wind and solar bases will reach 455 GW, indicating significant development potential for large-scale scenarios. The Shagao region’s high surface reflectivity benefits bifacial module generation, but it also faces harsh climatic challenges such as strong winds and temperature fluctuations.
Dr. Zhang explained that after thoroughly researching the characteristics of large-scale bases, Trina Solar launched this solution to address the demand for optimal electricity costs, high reliability against wind and sand, and efficient operation and maintenance products. Furthermore, this solution is based on the logic of electricity market transactions. Under the market-oriented reform of new energy grid pricing, there is a need for more competitive electricity costs to maximize profits.
Data from the Shandong Power Trading Center indicates that the peak output period for photovoltaic power stations coincides with the lowest electricity prices. Therefore, increasing photovoltaic generation during high-price periods can enhance investment returns and overall profitability. Dr. Zhang emphasized that achieving a more competitive LCOE hinges on reducing initial system investments while increasing the total energy output and production during high-price periods.
The Trina Solar large-scale solution reduces BOS costs and initial system investment through the more efficient i-TOPCon Ultra modules, higher power per unit area, and increased string power. It also achieves higher generation during high-price periods and greater total output over the lifecycle through the advantages of low irradiation energy generation and high overall efficiency, ultimately leading to a lower electricity cost. A lower cost per kilowatt-hour translates to higher profits.
The Trina Solar large-scale product solution benefits from the high bifacial rate and excellent low-irradiation performance of the i-TOPCon Ultra modules, combined with the intelligent algorithm advantages of the Trina 1P tracking system. This results in significant advantages in BOS costs, generation capacity, and LCOE, making it an optimal choice for the Shagao Desert Base scenario.
It is well-known that TOPCon modules have high bifacial rates and low irradiation performance advantages. When paired with fixed mounting systems, they already provide greater overall value compared to TBC modules, leading to a 1.98% increase in energy generation, an increase in overall value of 0.0263 yuan per watt, and a 1.24% reduction in LCOE. When upgraded to the i-TOPCon Ultra technology, Trina Solar’s premium N-type modules boast a bifaciality that is 10-15% higher than TBC modules. In the Shagao project site in Golmud, Qinghai, where the surface reflectivity is 25-30%, i-TOPCon Ultra modules generate 2.53% more energy under fixed mounting systems compared to TBC modules, increasing overall value by 0.0524 yuan per watt and reducing LCOE by 2.27%. If considering a TBC premium of 0.05 yuan per watt, the advantages of i-TOPCon Ultra modules become even more pronounced, with overall value rising to 0.1024 yuan per watt and LCOE advantages increasing to 4.08%. In tracking systems, the overall value exceeds that of fixed mounting systems.
According to calculations, the Trina Solar i-TOPCon Ultra modules combined with the Trina 1P tracking system provide 4.71% more total energy generation compared to TBC plus industry-standard 1P tracking systems, with an increase in system overall value of 0.126 yuan per watt and a reduction in LCOE of 4.37%. This makes it the preferred choice for projects aiming for optimal electricity costs. Similarly, if considering a TBC premium of 0.05 yuan per watt, the combination of i-TOPCon Ultra modules and the Trina 1P tracking system results in an overall value increase to 0.176 yuan per watt and an LCOE advantage expanding to 5.98%.
With the deepening participation of new energy in market transactions, the Trina Solar large-scale product solution benefits from the superior low-irradiation performance of the i-TOPCon Ultra modules, which can generate 5%-10% more energy in the early morning and evening compared to BC modules. Additionally, the Trina 1P tracking system can use intelligent algorithms to flexibly adjust angles during these higher electricity price periods, increasing energy generation by 10%, thereby raising the weighted selling price of each kilowatt-hour by at least 0.011 yuan. The Trina Solar large-scale solution can increase annual revenue by 2.396 million yuan for a 100 MW power station, improving the internal rate of return (IRR) by 0.97%.
It is noteworthy that based on the high bifacial rate, excellent low-irradiation performance, and the high output advantages of the Trina 1P tracking SuperTrack system, this product solution not only brings significant benefits to the Shagao Desert Base scenario but is also applicable to all global bifacial generation scenarios. In markets where there are electricity price differences, the Trina Solar large-scale solution has a competitive edge. According to InfoLink, it is predicted that from 2025 to 2028, bifacial scenarios will account for 86%-88% globally, greatly expanding the application range of Trina Solar’s product solutions.
In the context of the harsh Shagao Desert Base environment, characterized by winds exceeding level 8 with accompanying sandstorms, ensuring the reliability of photovoltaic products is crucial. To guarantee product and system reliability, Trina Solar has reinforced the frames of its TOPCon modules and tracking systems, employing multiple patented technologies to reduce failure rates. The large-scale solution also includes the introduction of assembly robots and tracked cleaning robots, which significantly enhance installation efficiency and autonomously sense environmental data for cleaning, increasing energy generation by 5%-10%. The solution provides intelligent operation and maintenance throughout the lifecycle, ensuring photovoltaic modules maintain optimal generating conditions. Additionally, for the Shagao Desert Base, Trina Solar offers high-protection design energy storage systems that ensure customer returns even in harsh environments.
As the only company in the industry providing a comprehensive solution that includes modules, mounts, and energy storage, Trina Solar’s TOPCon modules, mounts, and storage have already been implemented in the Shagao Desert Base scenario, earning high recognition from global customers.
