The photovoltaic power station for a desalination plant in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, with a total installed capacity of 45.5 MW, was connected to the grid recently, fully equipped with Trina Solar’s Vertex N 700W series modules. Engineering, procurement, and construction of the project were undertaken by SEPCOIII, affiliated to Power China. 

The Jubail 3A Independent Water Plant, in the city of Jubail in eastern Saudi Arabia, is the first large-scale integrated water desalination project in the country to use solar power as a supplementary power source. It can generate electricity to meet 20% of the daily energy needs of the plant and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 60,000 tons a year, making it an important part of the plant’s energy supply.

With advanced 210mm technology in conjunction with n-type i-TOPCon Advanced technology, Trina Solar Vertex N 700W series modules feature the four keys to unlocking low LCOE and increasing module efficiency to 22.5%. Thanks to its ultra-low degradation, ultra-low operating temperature, and optimized bifacial power generation, it has been called the “star of ground-mounted power stations”. 

The project’s coastal location with a highly complex climate poses a big challenge to the PV modules. Trina Solar has become a greatly trusted supplier to customers worldwide and is significantly recognized by international institutions. In May the company’s Vertex N 700W series modules passed RETC’s extended reliability tests, excelling in a series of test sequences including PID, LeTID, DH2000, SDML, and TC600, and were recognized as Overall Highest Achiever for the fourth year in a row. Previously, Trina Solar had been named Top Performer by PVEL for the ninth year in a row.

With Saudi Arabia’s vast deserts, 70% of its drinking water is obtained by desalinating seawater, supplemented by water from conventional resources. The Jubail plant uses seawater reverse osmosis technology to produce up to 600,000 tons of water a day, providing drinking water to 3 million people and is one of the major water sources for the cities of Dammam and Riyadh, and this greatly helps with growing water demand along the eastern coast of the country.

Sunlight and water are both sources of life, and Trina Solar captures every ray of sunlight to power the desalination project, creating a virtuous cycle of clean energy. Trina Solar remains committed to its mission of "Solar energy for all” by contributing to a net-zero world and a green future for mankind.