The 2022 Annual Conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), held on April 20-22 at Boao, Hainan, was themed around “The World in COVID-19 & Beyond: Working Together for Global Development and Shared Future”. Invited to attend the conference for the 9th time, Mr. Gao Jifan, Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO of Trina Solar Co., Ltd. ( “Trina Solar”) conducted in-depth exchanges with global political and business leaders on topics such as “Towards Carbon Neutrality: Business Sector on the Move” and “China-EU Entrepreneurs Dialogue”, offering the wisdom and experience of Trina Solar.
During the conference, Gao Jifan expressed that alongside the progress of photovoltaic (PV) technology, the efficiency of solar energy conversion has continued to improve, thus reducing the cost of generating PV power. Therefore, solar power will become the world’s cheapest, cleanest and safest form of energy in the future. According to the World Energy Transitions Outlook released by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the global installed capacity of photovoltaics is predicted to exceed 14,000 GW by 2050, almost 20 times the current capacity, and solar power will account for more than 50% of total energy generation over the next 30 years. The future of solar PV energy is highly promising.
Gao also proposed three key points for achieving carbon neutrality. The first was to continue scientific and technological innovation to improve conversion efficiency of solar energy and reduce costs. The second was to develop energy storage systems; for example, new technologies such as lithium and sodium battery storage, as well as products and applications of energy storage. The third was to develop high-voltage transmission, especially DC distribution technologies and systems, to build a new zero/low carbon system based on new energy sources.
In addition, Gao stated that carbon neutrality requires not only the development of photovoltaics, energy storage, ultra-high voltage transmission and DC distribution, but also, more importantly, the electrified combination of carbon-free power and end-use energy; for example, the development of zero-carbon buildings, factories, mining, and transportation. Trina Solar will continue its “zero-carbon practice”, create “zero-carbon models”, and promote related technologies and solutions worldwide.
Gao’s speech was echoed by guests in attendance such as Zhang Yue, Chairman and President of Broad Group, who is committed to developing zero-carbon buildings. Zhang believes that while the construction industry is the world’s largest emitter of carbons, it is also the easiest sector to reduce emissions. “ We can firstly reduce 90% of a building’s energy consumption. After that, we can reduce another 10% of the energy consumed by installing Trina Solar PV products on its roof. This allows the building to easily achieve zero-energy consumption,” he said. Mr. Zhang was pleased to learn from Trina Solar that the cost of solar power generation could be reduced significantly, and expressed that solar power should be promoted to Europe to help solve its energy crisis.
As the world’s leading provider of smart integrated PV energy solutions, Trina Solar actively participates in global governance, with business covering R&D, production and sales of PV modules, power plants and system products, PV power generation & operation and maintenance services, development and sales of intelligent micro-grid & multi-energy systems, and energy cloud platform operation. As of April 11, 2022, Trina Solar’s cumulative PV module shipments have exceeded 100GW, which is equivalent to the installed capacity of 4.4 Three Gorges hydropower plants, and roughly equivalent to planting 7.29 billion trees around the world.
Trina Solar began in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, where its global headquarters were established. Over the past 25 years, Trina Solar has constantly taken innovation as its leading development strategy and driving force. Obtaining relevant qualifications such as National Enterprise Technology Center, it has built a comprehensive and leading science and innovation system, while promoting innovative research and industrialization of PV technologies. Shouldering the responsibility of developing renewable energy, Trina Solar has made active contributions in guiding progress in the PV industry by accelerating development of a new energy system that is clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient. After years of development and experience, Trina Solar has obtained fruitful results in technological innovation, and has been recognized by several authoritative departments and well-known institutions. To date, Trina Solar’s State Key Laboratory of Photovoltaic Science and Technology has set 23 new world records in PV cell conversion efficiency and module output power.
In February 2022, Trina Solar was included on Reuters’ “Top 100 Innovators of Global Energy Transition” list, making it the only Chinese company and one of the few from the Asia-Pacific region to be included.
The Annual Conference was held in a hybrid online/offline format, with events covering areas such as COVID-19 prevention and control, global economy, green recovery and sustainable development, digital economy, international cooperation and global governance, and new development of regional cooperation in Asia, with topics including “Towards Carbon Neutrality: Business Sector on the Move”, “Promote Energy Integration & Build Green World”, “Rising Digital Economy”, “Global Manufacturing Transformation and Industrial Change”, “The Belt and Road Initiative – New Practices of Cooperation and Development”. At the conference, delegates from governments, business, academia and media all over the world gathered to discuss the post-pandemic development agenda in Asia and the rest of the world, focusing on green, innovative, inclusive, and collaborative development, so as to promote international solidarity and cooperation.
Trina Solar will continue to promote PV technology innovation and industry research, to accelerate the construction of a new energy system that is clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient, and to jointly contribute to a carbon-neutral future. The mission of benefiting all mankind with solar power is turning from a dream into a reality!