As the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for solar continues to drop, Trina Solar remains committed to finding innovative ways to achieve grid parity. This includes the release of the high-power, high-efficiency Vertex bifacial dual-glass modules for residential, commercial and utility-scale PV installations.

In addition, Trina Solar’s ground-breaking “low voltage, high string power ” design concept has drawn widespread attention from around the renewable energy sector. This design, coupled with the modules’ higher power output, optimizes the number of modules used per string inverter while boosting energy gains.

To demonstrate the increased value of the Vertex modules, Trina Solar invited DNV GL, an international testing, certification and advisory organization, to conduct a third-party assessment. DNV GL found that Trina Solar’s Vertex modules significantly reduce costs, LCOE in particular, due to their highly efficient power generation capacity and low-voltage, high-string power design.

Let’s take a look at what DNV GL tested and the results from its assessment.

Conducting third-party testing

DNV GL traveled to one typical PV site in north Texas, U.S., and one in Seville, Spain, to evaluate BOS costs and LCOE of Trina’s 210mm 545W Vertex modules.

As a baseline metric of the BOS costs and LCOE of other modules, DNV compared Trina’s Vertex panels against two other panel types:

• a bifacial dual-glass 166mm 450W module
• a bifacial dual-glass 182mm 535W module

Both installation sites used string inverters and single-axis trackers. 

Using the sites’ custom PAN data, DNV GL was able to conduct an energy assessment. The assessment technicians also accounted for a variety of loss factors, such as shading, light-induced degradation (LID), and reflection effects, among others.

With the key indicators of capital costs (CAPEX), operational costs (OPEX), performance and LCOE, DNV GL was able to calculate an estimated annual performance ratio and energy yield for the PV systems.

The results of the assessment

Based on their performance ratio and energy yield estimates, DNV GL concluded that the Vertex modules have the potential to lower LCOE and BOS for large-scale PV installations. 

At the Spanish site

DNV found when compared to the 166mm bifacial dual-glass 450W module, Trina’s Vertex can save the initial investment 2.16 euro cents per watt. The Vertex modules can also reduce LCOE by about 2.8 percent. 

When compared to the 182mm bifacial dual-glass 535W module, DNV reported that Trina’s Vertex modules can save the initial investment 0.2 euro cents per watt. This can reduce LCOE by 0.3 percent.

At the U.S. Site

Compared to the 166mm bifacial dual-glass 450W module, DNV GL found that Trina’s Vertex can save the initial investment $0.04 U.S cents per watt. This can reduce LCOE by about 3.5 percent. 

Compared to the 182mm bifacial dual-glass 535W module, Trina’s Vertex modules can save the initial investment almost $0.01 U.S. cents per watt, reducing LCOE by 0.5 percent.

As the DNV GL results show, Trina’s 210mm 545W Vertex modules set a new cost-saving standard for solar panels. These modules help ensure the project’s earnings and further maximize customer value, making PV solar energy more cost competitive and attractive for investors.

Trina’s Vertex series modules will be avabile in the U.S. market in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Contact Trina Solar today to learn more about the cost-saving benefits and higher power gains the 210mm 545W Vertex modules offer.