Greentech Lead Asia: Trina Solar has signed a supply
agreement with Longyuan (Tibet) New Energy to supply an off-grid solar project
in the Northern Tibetan region of Naqu.
The 2.1 MW project is Trina Solar’s largest off-grid
system project in China, following the construction of approximately 40
standalone power stations in 2002 in the Chamdo region of Tibet.
“Quality irradiance in this highly elevated region
underscores its suitability for such a project. We are committed to providing
quality products and excellent service in implementing this project, which we
believe can benefit the local population,” said Jifan Gao, chairman and
CEO of Trina Solar.
“This off-grid project, which differs from utility
scale projects in terms of set-up and components, will use our
specially-designed PC20 off-grid modules,” said Mark Kingsley, chief
commercial officer of Trina Solar.
The off-grid market has the potential to bring another
dimension of growth to Trina Solar. These installations, believed to be one of
the largest off-grid module orders in China, are especially suited for Tibet’s
environment owing to its clean air, excellent sunlight, and challenges of
rugged topography to extend traditional distributed power.
With an average 2,900 sunlight hours per year, the region
is highly suited to PV solar generation.
Naqu is one of the Tibetan areas lacking distributed grid
power. Trina Solar hopes that the new off-grid project will alleviate the
electricity shortages of the farmers and herdsmen, thereby improving the quality
of life, while promoting local economic and social development in the region.
Trina Solar has developed a vertically integrated
business model from the production of monocrystalline and multicrystalline
silicon ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules.
Longyuan (Tibet) New Energy is engaged in the design,
development, construction, management and operation of wind farms. In addition
to the wind power business, the company also operates other power projects such
as thermal power, solar power, tidal, biomass and geothermal energy.