FREMONT, California — Trina Solar, a global leader in smart solar products and solutions, has prioritized its efforts for a secure supply chain compliant with U.S. regulations. For its module and cell manufacturing in Southeast Asia, Trina uses 100% European polysilicon to supply the U.S. region. Additionally, Trina’s 6.5 GW wafer facility in Vietnam marks the milestone of a completely restructured and independent supply chain.
Consistent bankability and more than 25 years of industry experience give Trina the expertise and capacity to act swiftly to provide U.S. regulatory documentation and supply the renewable energy necessary to achieve urgent net-zero goals.
Solar Supply Chains
In 2023, the U.S. market has strong potential for increased solar deployment thanks to incentives and tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). However, several obstacles in the solar supply chain threaten the country’s ability to accelerate decarbonization efforts.
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) set an ambitious goal for solar to meet 30% of U.S. electricity needs by 2030. For the country to accomplish this “30% by 30” milestone, average annual solar capacity additions must reach more than 48 GW. But in 2022, the U.S. only installed 20.2 GW of new solar capacity, a 16% decreasecompared to 2021 and a significant blow to the country’s renewable energy transition.
Most of this decline stems from anti-dumping and countervailing (AD/CVD) tariffs by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and import detainments by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA).
Although duties are currently paused on AD/CVD tariffs for module and cell imports, DOC is scheduled to release a final determination on May 1, 2023. Trina has worked to expand production locations and diversify supply chains to comply with U.S. regulations and minimize tariff impact on its products.
UFLPA requires proof that imported goods have no connection to forced labor and that all materials originate in regions unrelated to forced labor allegations. Providing rapid response on requested supply chain documentation to verify materials were responsibly sourced reduces shipment delays and ensures timely customer deliveries. For example, Trina Solar cleared nearly 1GW of solar modules through customs in the past four months, with only about 0.3% of products requiring examination.
Trina’s commitment to responsible purchasing extends beyond a strict prohibition of forced labor or labor abuse and also ensures suppliers follow ethical standards and provide a healthy and safe workplace. Alongside customers and partners, including developers, EPCs, distributors, and installers, Trina’s efforts to build a sustainable future rely on the responsible procurement of solar supplies.
The Importance of Robust Supply Chain Traceability
As the longest and most consistent PV module manufacturer with a 100% bankability status, Trina Solar has the infrastructure and resources to institute an expedited response system. Advanced data systems and supply chain management allow the company to efficiently and transparently provide detailed traceability documentation upon request by CBP, significantly reducing delays for shipments being cleared for entry if detained for examination under UFLPA.
To accomplish this, Trina utilizes a substantial risk management team with an auditing infrastructure for both internal operations and external suppliers and partners that includes:
- Sourcing only from limited suppliers, including directly purchasing polysilicon from dedicated manufacturers in regions with no connection to forced labor
- Setting strict management standards to ensure the company’s supply chain remains free of forced labor, conflict minerals, and other unethical practices
- Regularly auditing supply chain partners to ensure their compliance with similar standards and that they operate in regions with no connection to forced labor
- Launching a powerful IT system that tracks all supplies and promptly provides full traceability documentation
Trina remains committed to supplying sustainable, responsibly sourced solar PV modules to power the country’s transition from carbon-based to renewable energy.
With ongoing compliance with supply chain traceability requirements, Trina Solar is rising to the historic occasion to supply the sustainably manufactured solar modules needed to help the country reach its ambitious renewable energy target. Trina continues to serve as an industry leader, not only in advancing PV technology innovation but also in building a sustainable and socially responsible supply chain and clean energy sector.
About Trina Solar
Since its founding 25 years ago, Trina Solar has shipped more than 120GW of modules, generating green power for customers in more than 100 countries and regions, and remains dedicated to building a carbon-emissions-free world using responsibly sourced materials.
Trina Solar has obtained extensive technical and brand recognition from renowned independent institutes worldwide, demonstrating the PV market's strong confidence in Trina’s product value, technological innovation, and financial performance. The company scored 100% in the BNEF Bankability Survey for seven consecutive years and has been rated AAA — the highest rating — in Q4 2022 PV ModuleTech bankability ratings for three consecutive quarters. The company has also been ranked as Top Performer by PVEL and named an Overall High Achiever by RETC.