As the world races toward a net-zero future, the solar industry sits in the spotlight as companies are called upon to provide clean energy solutions and embody sustainability principles.

Increasingly, solar bids must reflect the environmental impact of the materials used. Quantifying and minimizing the projects’ carbon footprints will require selecting suppliers who use low-carbon or recycled materials. For engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms, independent power producers (IPPs), and developers, aligning with partners who prioritize environmental stewardship will be critical to achieving your long-term goals.

Trinasolar, a global leader in solar and energy solutions, exemplifies this ethos not only with its advanced technology and bankable products but also by embedding sustainability into every facet of operations, from ethical raw material sourcing to end-of-life recycling to social responsibility.

With a clear roadmap to carbon neutrality and measurable achievements across its operations, let’s take a look at Trina’s recent sustainability measures and successes.

A Vision for Solar Sustainability: Measurable Progress Toward Net-Zero by 2030

Trina set an ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality at the global organizational level by 2030. No small feat for a company of Trinasolar’s scale, but it’s a testament to its commitment to leading the energy transition.

In 2023, Trinasolar established a comprehensive "Net-Zero System" that spans three critical dimensions: Net-Zero Operation, Net-Zero Value Chain, and Net-Zero Products. This approach aligns every aspect of the company’s operations with its sustainability goals, from manufacturing to product lifecycle.

For developers and IPPs focused on minimizing the environmental impact of their projects, Trina’s results so far speak for themselves:

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Intensity:

  • Cell production decreased by 42.74% from the 2020 baseline

  • Module production decreased by 61.47%, exceeding its target

• Integrated Energy Consumption Intensity:

  • Cell production decreased by 47.47%

  • Module production decreased by 38.32%

• Water Consumption Intensity:

  • Cell production decreased by an impressive 85.48%, achieving its target

  • Module production decreased by 44.40%, also meeting its goal

Although these achievements highlight Trinasolar’s ability to innovate and optimize its processes while minimizing its environmental impact, there’s still work to reach total carbon neutrality by 2030.

Building a Sustainable Solar Value Chain

Sustainability begins with accountability and requires collaboration across the entire value chain. Trinasolar has been a trailblazer in supply chain traceability by taking significant steps to ensure that its suppliers and partners share its commitment to ethical and sustainable practices.

• Supplier Social Responsibility:

  • 95.67% of Trinasolar’s suppliers have signed the Supplier Social Responsibility Commitment.

  • 95.67% of suppliers have undergone Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS), and Social Responsibility audits.  

• Business Ethics:

  • Trinasolar has completed 26 business ethics audits across its headquarters, subsidiaries, and overseas bases.

  • The company maintains a 100% completion rate for processing business ethics reports.  

These efforts have not gone unnoticed. TÜV Rheinland awarded Trinasolar an AA assessment, the highest possible, for its complete traceability chain, and Bureau Veritas honored Trina with the Green Supply Chain Leadership Award. These awards speak to the company’s clear transparency and accountability, further solidifying its reputation as a sustainable supply chain management leader.

By holding upstream suppliers to stringent environmental and ethical standards, Trina gives downstream partners confidence in their supply chain's ethical and environmental integrity. This robust traceability system ensures high-quality, responsibly sourced products and enhances Trina’s bankability, making your solar projects more accessible and appealing to investors and financiers.

Pioneering More Sustainable Solar Products  

End-of-life management of PV modules remains one of the solar industry’s most pressing challenges. EPCs and developers evaluating the lifecycle impact of PV modules will see that Trina’s PV product portfolio offers clear advantages.

Trinasolar’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its operations to its products. In 2022, the company’s Vertex module series received the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Certificate and Carbon Footprint Certificate from TÜV Rheinland, a globally recognized leader in independent testing and certification. These certifications validate the low environmental impact of Trinasolar’s products throughout their lifecycle.

But Trina didn’t stop there. In 2024, the company achieved a groundbreaking milestone by producing the world’s first fully recycled crystalline silicon (c-Si) module. Using innovative, self-developed technologies like interlayer separation reagents, chemical etching, and wet chemical silver extraction, the company successfully recovered high-value materials like silicon, silver, aluminum frames, and glass from waste PV panels. The fully recycled c-Si module, developed by Trinasolar’s Research Center Academy, delivers an impressive 20.7% efficiency with power output exceeding 645W.

Additionally, Trinasolar’s Vertex, Vertex N, and Vertex S+ modules have earned UL EPD certifications, EPD Italy certification, and EPD Norway certification, respectively.

Addressing this urgent priority showcases the company’s technical prowess and dedication to minimizing environmental impact while establishing a new benchmark for circularity in the solar industry.

ESG Recognition on the Global Stage  

Investors, utilities, and corporate buyers expect solar projects that align with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria.

Trinasolar’s sustainability measures have been recognized by some of the world's most respected organizations. In 2024, the company was named a Leading Champion in the Bloomberg Green ESG 50 List, a prestigious honor highlighting companies excelling in ESG practices.  

This recognition reflects Trinasolar’s holistic approach to sustainability with its four-layer ESG governance structure, integrating leadership, governance, execution, and supervision. The framework ensures the company applies ESG principles throughout the entire value chain, from product design and manufacturing to sales and after-sales service.

A Model of Sustainability for the Solar Industry and the World

As developers, IPPs, and EPCs face growing pressure to deliver projects that meet both economic and environmental objectives, Trinasolar offers more than just high-performance solar modules; it provides a comprehensive approach to sustainability that supports partners at every stage of their journey.

Trinasolar’s achievements demonstrate that it’s possible to be a global leader in PV technology and a sustainability champion. The company’s innovative products, ambitious carbon neutrality goals, and commitment to ethical practices set the standard for a more sustainable solar industry.