Integrating Large Format Modules

onto Single Axis Trackers:

The Challenges Involved and
Opportunities to Lower Capex, LCOE
and Risk
Andrew Gilhooly
Head of TrinaPro Head Asia Pacific
Corporate Timeline

Trina Solar is founded Lists on the NYSE State Key Laboratory of Launches Trina’s
PV Science & Technology Million-Roof Plan
is established

1997 2006 2012 2017

Trina Era 1.0 Trina Era 2.0 Trina Era 3.0

2002 2014 2016 2018

Builds 40 Off-grid Solar

Power Stations in Tibet Global Module Thailand factory starts Launches Trina
Autonomous Region Shipments No.1 operation Energy IoT brand
Global Footprint

45GW+
Module

Corporate HQ Changzhou, China

Zurich, Switzerland Beijing

Chengdu

UK
Seoul, Korea
Canada
3GW+
Tokyo, Japan Grid-connected
Madrid, Spain
CHINA
Shanghai
Toulouse, France
Yancheng San Jose, USA
Munich, Germany Miami, USA
Suqian
United Emirates

Rome, Italy
New Delhi,
Hefei
Xiantao
Mexico City 100+Countries
India Baotou Vietnam Customers
Abu Dhabi Thailand
Bogota, Colombia
Dubai
Sydney, Australia
Santiago, Chile
Singapore
Sao Paulo,
Brazil 13000+
Corporate & Regional Headquarters
Employee
Regional Offices
Manufacturing Base
A Culture of Innovation
N-Cast-mono-TOPCon cell
23.22%
Nov. 2019

156mm IBC cell 20

25.04%
20 World Records Feb. 2018
156mm IBC cell 18
19
N-mono-TOPCon cell

in PV cell efficiency & module output 24.13% 24.58%

Apr. 2017 17
May. 2019
Multi-Si module Ap. Eff. IBC module

19.86% 16 410.5 W
156mm mono-Si cell Oct. 2016 Dec. 2017
15
22.13% 156mm Mono cell
Dec. 2015 14
Multi-Si module Ap. Eff.
13
22.61%
mono-Si PERC cell
19.14% Dec. 2016
April 2015 12
156mm IBC cell
Mono-Si module 21.4% 11
Mono-Si module 335.2 W Nov. 2014 23.5%
Multi-Si Module 10 April. 2016
326.3 W Oct. 2014 09
284.7 W April 2014 08
156mm multi-Si cell
May, 2012 07 21.25%
04
05
06
Multi-Si module Nov. 2015
795 Patents
01 02 03 324.5 W
156mm Multi-Si PERC cell Dec. 2014
156mm IBC cell
2cm IBC cell 20.76%
Multi-Si Module
24.4%
22.94% Nov. 2014 95 International & Chinese
274.3 W Feb. 2014
April 2014
Industry Standards
Sept. 2011
World Leading PV and Smart Energy Total Solution Provider
Business Units….More then Merely a Module Manufacturer
3.0

2.0
Smart Energy
1.0
System solutions

PV Products
Utility Project Sm art Micro-grid

High Efficiency Module Distributed PV System Energy Storage System

TrinaPro / TrinaTracker Energy Cloud-Platform

LCOE is Reducing Globally

Global average LCOE $/MWh LCOE reduction is becoming trend globally

400
362
350
347
300

250

200

150
PV, fixed axis
PV, tracking
100
50
50
39
0
2011

2012

2015

2017
2013

2016

2019
2018
2010

2014

2020
2009-Worldwide LCOE of PV project reduce from
0.32$/kWh to <<0.04$/kWh
 Challenges in Australian Big Solar

• EPCs transferring connection risks back to IPPs/Developers

• Sites becoming increasingly challenging - EPCs becoming more selective
• Constrained sites – especially for co-located with storage
• Geotech
• Topography
• Flood
• Remote location
• Schedule (Covid, union issues etc)
A Considerable Opportunity still remains

• To unlock this pipeline, aside from solving

connection/grid and investor misgivings we
need to continue to innovate to simplify
engineering and de-risk construction
• Tracking at wide GCR exacerbates site risk
Chart of GCR vs LCOE - Australia vs Malaysia
$41.50
$41.00
$40.50
$40.00
$39.50
$39.00
$38.50
$38.00
$37.50
30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55%

Malaysia Australia Poly. (Malaysia) Poly. (Australia)

 Making the Complex Simple

Project Commission ···

Non-technology Exploration Approach Delivery Installation
Management

Diagnosis
AI method
Big data Cloud ···
O&M Trouble Cleaning
Alarm shooting
UAV Robot

Reduce Communication PHC PLC LORA Modbus Owner &EPC

LCOE
Installation Horizontal Vertical One row Two row ···

Oversize 1.0 1.1-1.3 >1.3

Product selection is
more complicated

Technology 1500V inverter String Central Distributed ··· More suppliers

participate in design

The design is more

Tracker Single-row Multi-row Bi-row Clearance Pitch Shading factor
complicated

Operation and
Frame Partial frame Frameless White board ··· maintenance are more
complicated

Module Large Half-cut MBB ···

Cell TOPCon PERC HJT Bifacial

TrinaPro Overview

TrinaPro is a one-stop smart photovoltaic TrinaPro

solution developed by Trina Solar for large- Digital Management Platform
scale power stations.

Covering different terrain, different slopes,

different wind speeds speeds and other
complex application scenarios.
Smart Tracker Bifacial Module Smart Inverter

The system integrates three core products:

high-efficiency PV modules, intelligent
tracking system and reliable inverter. The
system innovatively provides customers
with hardware system design, software
function integration, integrated services and Hardware-software Intelligent Customized One Stop
intelligent operation and maintenance integration tracking design solution

services .
Reduce Increase power System Delivery efficiency
BOS cost generation Availability increase

8-15% 3-8% 99.9% 15%

Unlocking the Next Level of Low LCOE…Module Power
 Trina Vertex Opens the High Power 550/600W+ Era

Higher Power High Reliability

Maximum expected power： lower first & yearly degradation.
550W+/600W+.
30 years of power warranty for bifacial

High Efficiency High Power Generation

Benefit from square mono cells and high-density Excellent temperature coefficient and low irradiation
technology，the efficiency of Vertex can reach up performance.
to 21%. 5% - 30% of additional power generation brought by
the backside.

Low voltage, high current

Voc：38.1V Isc：18.39A
 Integration of Innovative Module Technology

+80.5%
+12.2%
+3.14%
1/3 1/2
1/2 1/2
210
156.75 158 166

The largest size of wafer: Non-destructive cutting

Largest silicon ingot technology from semiconductor industry

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

MBB(Multi-Bus bar): High-density interconnection

Multiple bus bar match large size wafer perfectly
technology:
Minimized Space between Cell to Cell to
Improve module Efficiency 0.2-0.3%
 Evaluation by 3rd Party DNVGL for 1P Tracker

 EPC cost decrease for 545 W

 Less module number, less installation to
do
 Less strings, less DC cable and wiring
work
 High string power
 Less total weight of tracker

Takeaways
• the LCOE cost and capex for Trina 545 W modules is
lower than competitor 535 W
• LCOE could be even lower when trackers optimized
to fit 3 strings per tracker
• This calculation assumes inverters can have higher
string input 20A
1 Cost estimations based on similar projects in Spain and USA. Tracker costs provided by supplier
based on estimated tracker dimension changes for similar 545 W modules
2 Results comparable to industry reports system pricing. Wood Mackenzie, U.S. Solar PV System Cost Model,
H1 2020
Module Impact on Tracker Design Optimisation

fewer
 Provides Solutions for Every Site
Vanguard
• 2 in portrait, specifically engineered for large modules with
multi point drive for stability
• Up to 120 modules per tracker – optimised for Low Voltage up
to 40 modules per string
• Individual row actuation for optimum bifacial yield and wide
unimpeded vehicle access every row (easiest O&M)
• Optimised slope tolerance up to 30% (15% standard)
• Lowest installed cost – 7 piles per table, <120 piles per MW
• Best for Challenging sites: irregular/constrained, geotech,
undulating, flood plain

Agile
• 1 in portrait, specifically engineered for large modules
• Up to 120 modules per tracker – optimised for Low Voltage up
to 40 modules per string
• Dual row actuation for enhanced bifacial yield and wide
vehicle access every other row (easy O&M)
• Fewest motors/controller/battery per MW (save capex & opex)
• Enhanced slope tolerance -15% N/S, 8% E/W
• Best for less challenging sites
Core components - Vanguard

Smart-tracking extra Larger Modules Unique cable arrangement

power gain 3~8% 210mm wafer size Reduces cable usage and labor

Smart module mounting Patented ball bearing + Up to 120 Module

saves 5% of special bracket per Tracker
installation cost Adapt to >20% fewer piles
more terrain (16% NS)
 Impact of Higher Module Wattage and Low Voc on BOS
Trina DEG20MC20 Competitor 520W Trina 500W Competitor 520W Trina 590W
590W Module Wattage 500 520 590
1.303m ~1.1m Module Voc 51.7 48.9 41.3
Module Area sqm 2.41 2.50 2.83
Power Density W/m2 207.5 208 208

Modules per String 28 28 32

Strings per Tracker 3 4 3
Modules per Tracker 84 112 96
kWp per tracker 42.0 58.2 56.6
Piles per MWp 169 137 124
2.172m ~2.2m Piles per Tracker 7 7 inner / 9 outer 7
100MWp SA Project
Total Piles 16,900 13,736 12,359
Total Strings 7,143 6,868 5,297
Capex Saving USD/Wp -$0.0094 -$0.0199
Capex Savings -1.37% -2.90%
~63.3m

Competitor
2V x 56

TrinaPro
SP160
2V x 48
Available
Now
~62.5m
Impact of Higher Module Wattage and Low Voc on BOS

• Total capex saving

USD1.05c/Wp
• Component cost 21%
• EBOS and Trenching 55%
• Installation 23%
• 1.4% lower Capex
• Reference Project 128MWp
Australia, 50% predrill/backfill
piles
Super Track-Optimised Bifacial Algorithm for Cloudy Conditions

Standard tracking algorithms are not optimised for bifacial systems

tracking algorithms

E total E front E back

Positive power
generation
Scattering
on the back
Back
Reflection

TrinaPro Optimum Traditional

tracking tracking algorithms
Two parts Only focus on Is not considering.
The TrinaPro AI Machine Learning algorithm can increase
power generation by 1%-2%
Scattering and Maximum power Maximum power generation
Reflection generation in front on the front and back

TrinaPro
Bifacial Energy

Scattering Light

Front Rear

Direct Scattering Reflex Direct Scattering Reflex

Irradiation Irradiation Irradiation Irradiation Irradiation Irradiation

Standard tracking

TrinaPro Optimum tracking

SuperTrack – Maximised Yield in Backtracking

Smart backtracking VS Conventional Design

Self-adjusting according to terrain Avoid front and back Further reduce LCOE Increase power generation
Adapting to different slope Shadow masking $0.6/kWh 2.7%+
TrinaPro SuperTrack Algorithm Maximises Overall Yield

TrinaPro Boosts the Energy Production With Smart Tracking & Smart Backtracking
Power Output Boos Power Output by Power Output Boost with Power Output Boost with
twith Smart Backtracking Standard Tracking Smart Backtracking Smart Tracking

3rd party verified by CGC

for yield boost >3%
Power Output Boost with
Smart Backtracking
Power Output Boost
with Smart Tracking

Extra power gain

Power Output Boost with
3-8% Smart Backtracking

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Unrivalled Bankability of Holistic Solution

Trina Solar 100%

JA Solar 100%

Jinko Solar 100%

Longi 100%

Canadian Solar 100%

LG Electronics 97% 3%

Top Bankable Module Supplier SunPower 94% 3% 3%

BYD 93% 7%

Hanwha Q Cells 91% 3% 6%

2016 — 2020
Chint / Astronergy 90% 10%

First Solar 87% 13%

REC Group 84% 3% 13%

Panasonic 82% 11% 7%

System-level endorsement GCL Systems 81% 13% 6%

Talesun 80% 13% 9%

Bankable Not bankable Never heard of

Souce: BloomberoNEF 2020

Integrated Solutions Unlock Value Add Support

Streamlined Contracting Arrival in stages Pre-sales installation training On-site installation Device connection debugging

Delivery and Service

Power plant whole life cycle

Design and Engineering Operation and Maintenance

Layout Optimisation Yield Assessment Cloud based Monitoring Remote Control

IRR calculation Topo and Geotech Support Remote Fault Alarm Robotic Cleaning Drone Inspection
Reference Projects
Reference Projects

USA 2019 103MW Mexico 2019 23MW

Trina TSM-DE15H + SP160 2V with Slewing Driving Trina TSM-DEG14H.20(II) + SP1000

Reference Projects

Spain 2018 190MW Spain 2019 50MW

Trina + SP160 2V Trina TSM-PE14H + SP160 2V

Reference Projects

Australia 2018 120 MW Australia 2019 6.4 MW

Trina + SP1000 1V Trina TSM-DEG17MC.20(II) + SP160

Maximise your Energy Generation and Adaptability
For enquiries 10MW and above please contact
andrew.gilhooly@trinasolar.com