Both JA Solar and Trina Solar have recently announced significant solar panel supply deals outside their home turf, helping to take some of the sting out of recent policy changes in China.
Trina Solar – Vietnam
Trina Solar announced last week it is supplying 258MW of its monocrystalline PERC double glass modules for what will be the largest privately owned PV project in Vietnam.
Located in the capital of Ninh Thuan Province, Phan Rang-Thap Cham, the US$220 million Trungnam Group project covers 264 hectares and will generate 425GWh of electricity per year. The facility is expected to be completed in the middle of next year.
Trina Solar has a significant presence in Vietnam, one it is keen on growing. In addition to its panels being used in PV power stations and increasingly for residential applications, the company has a 1GW solar cell production facility in the country.
Last year, Trina racked up more than 9GW in global shipments, with over 60 percent this figure bound for locations outside of the PV manufacturer’s home market, China. By the end of 2017, the company’s cumulative shipments totaled 32GW.
Among Trina’s important markets is Australia, and SolarQuotes considers it a trusted brand. The company’s products are currently rating 4.39 out of 5 in SQ’s Trina Solar panels reviews, which are submitted by Australians who have had the modules installed for at least 12 months.
JA Solar – Mexico
JA Solar announced on the weekend it is supplying 404MW of its panels to a project in Puerto Libertad, Mexico.
The panels won’t be in for an easy life as the project site is in the Sonoran Desert, so they’ll be subjected to high temperatures and will need to endure sand and dust storms. The facility is expected to generate 963GWh of clean electricity per year.
JA Solar panels are also being used for another PV project in the Sonoran Desert, a 200MW facility under development for IEnova, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy. That power station is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of 2018.
JA Solar says it set up a subsidiary in Mexico last year and is looking to grow its market share in the region.
Australia is another important market for the company, with JA Solar panels a popular choice for locally installed solar power systems.
China’s major panel manufacturers had been enjoying solid support at home, but that ended in June with an announcement from the country’s government that it would be slashing support for PV. This has put pressure on companies to expand in other markets and the good news for Australian solar buyers is the resulting glut of modules is helping to drive down the cost of solar panels further.
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