DNV GL released The Technology Assessment Report for the TrinaPro Smart Solar Solution. This assessment arises from a review of detailed field testing and independent energy simulations conducted by DNV GL. The findings highlight how the turn-key aspect of the TrinaPro solution improves system performance and increases solar energy gains, which can potentially expedite ROI.

Headquartered in Norway, DNV GL is a leading global quality assurance and risk-management company. It also serves as the world’s largest technical consultancy and supervisory to the global renewable energy and oil and gas industries.

Why DNV GL’s Assessment Matters

TrinaPro utilizes an innovative turn-key approach to utility-scale and commercial solar PV installations by bundling together three core components: industry-leading Trina Solar modules, world-class NClave trackers and high-quality central or string inverters. By integrating these core components with a smart tracking algorithm and a cloud-based O&M platform, TrinaPro optimizes system performance and generates higher energy gains. 

With all of these features and components packaged together like this, TrinaPro is a transformative PV solution and marks a major step forward for the solar industry. And, like with any new product hitting the market, project owners and financiers want to know if the proof is in the pudding, so to speak.

So Trina Solar invited engineers from DNV GL to visit a test site in Viana, Spain to conduct an assessment of the TrinaPro solution in action. DNV GL engineers also visited a module manufacturing facility in China to inspect the manufacturing and quality control processes at work.

How TrinaPro Ranked in DNV GL’s Assessment

The DNV GL engineers performed two types of hourly simulations in PVsyst at the TrinaPro test site in Spain. According to these two simulations, they estimated that TrinaPro’s tracking algorithm could provide annual energy gains of 0.6 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

On cloudy days, this range increased energy gains by 0.4-1.9 percent. And under specific scenarios annual energy gains reach up to 5 percent.

Speaking of the results, MinWah Leung, Project Manager at DNV GL, said: "The main advantage of TrinaPro is the system integration for a turn-key solution. Projects are designed with megawatt blocks and TrinaPro allows for integrated project management, installation, components, and monitoring. While TrinaPro's software controls and cloud-based O&M platform are new, Trina uses existing module, inverter, and tracker products in the industry. DNV GL considers that Trina Solar is capable of supplying a product that does not pose atypical risks."

Yin Rongfang, Vice General Manager and EVP at Trina Solar, said: "The comprehensive assessment of DNV GL once again proves that TrinaPro's leading technology delivers a top bankability performance in the global market. TrinaPro is the industry's first smart photovoltaic solution and is currently the only PV solution proven by an international third-party. With TrinaPro expanding its global footprint, an increasing number of customers can expect to derive enhanced investment income as a result."

Despite the positive assessment, Trina Solar remains hard at work coming up with innovative new features and technologies to continue boosting efficiency and energy gain rates for solar PV installations.

Click here to learn more about TrinaPro and the benefits and added value it provides for utility-scale solar projects.