JJ-LAPP, a joint-venture between Jebsen & Jessen Group and LAPP Holding Asia, and Trina Solar, a leading global PV and smart energy total solution provider, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering strategic cooperation, and foresee tremendous demand in Southeast Asia for solar energy.
JJ-LAPP and Trina Solar agree to jointly develop solar PV projects in South East Asia for the benefit of customers in the commercial, industrial (C&I) and utility-scale segments of the solar market.
Trina Solar provides solar modules, trackers, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems and other products required for C&I and utility-scale installations. Meanwhile, JJ-LAPP provides other types of products required for solar installations – such as AC and DC cabling, connectors, etc – that are also critical and also help to lower the solar project’s overall balance of system (BOS) cost.
The two companies have previously worked together on solar projects in South East Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. For example, they have worked on many rooftop installations in Indonesia as well as a 6.28MW project for an Indonesian solar energy developer.
In the Philippines, JJ-LAPP and Trina Solar have been working on rooftop installations for a furniture retailer that has several large stores throughout the country. Each rooftop commercial installation is 120-300kW.
JJ-LAPP and Trina Solar first started working together in Singapore in 2020. Since then, the partnership has expanded throughout South East Asia. Under the new MOU, which was signed today in Singapore and comes into immediate effect, JJ-LAPP anticipates that the amount of solar modules ordered from Trina Solar this calendar year will more than double from last year’s 21MW.
The CEO of JJ-LAPP, Marc von Grabowski, says: “The solar segment is of strategic importance to JJ-LAPP. It is a privilege to find another committed partner in Trina Solar and work on our shared ambition to provide reliable solar power to the South East Asian region. Over the past years, we have experienced - not only the quality products of Trina Solar as part of the JJ-LAPP solar system bundle - but also appreciate their professional support along the way.”
The Regional Head for Renewable Energy at JJ-LAPP, John Hng, adds: “Alone we can only do so much, but together we can do so much more.”
Todd Li, President of Trina Solar Asia Pacific, says: “Trina Solar will maintain its leadership and meet the increasing market demand for high-performance PV modules. Working together can deliver a lower BOS cost, because JJ-LAPP and Trina Solar account for the bulk of the hardware that goes into a solar installation. We can also help to reduce manpower costs for the customer’s project by coordinating our efforts and delivering greater efficiency in work processes.”
Under the new MOU, JJ-LAPP and Trina Solar have also agreed to support each other on operation and maintenance of solar installations. This helps customers’ projects to achieve lower lifecycle costs. Lowering the cost of operations and maintenance over the life of a solar installation is critical to achieving further lowering of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE).
From left to right are Marc von Grabowski, CEO, JJ-LAPP and Helena Li, President, Global Solar Product Business, Trina Solar