Trina Solar, one of China’s largest manufacturers of solar panels, has announced that it is entering the energy storage market with the launch of the Trina Storage brand.
The launch of Trina Storage is not entirely unexpected, as numerous solar panel manufacturers have begun offering energy storage so that clients can store the energy that is produced. Both LG and Tesla have pioneered the one-stop shop approach, and now Trina wants to get in on the action.
Trina Storage will offer a range of solutions for those looking for energy storage products, supporting everything from standalone projects, such as grid services, to large applications, such as industrial sites and microgrids.
A real advantage to clients will be in leveraging the company as a one-stop shop. Those looking for energy storage will also be able to get solar panels at the same time, without having to contact multiple different companies.
What will Trina Storage offer?
In a rapidly-transforming energy industry, the design of energy storage systems require a high level of expertise, experience and deep understanding of the technical challenges associated with renewable energy. While other energy storage solution providers offer standard solutions, Trina Storage says that it engineers flexible and highly-scalable solutions that solve those challenges, in terms of costs, quality, safety & efficiency. These solutions are designed to meet the specific needs of every customer.
The solutions consist of a harmony of hardware, software and services that enable Utilities, IPPs, Developers and EPCs all over the world to deploy storage faster and more cost-effectively than ever. They combine LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries and PCS (Power Conversion System) in a containerised solution with software (BMS, EMS) and services like monitoring and support.
Trina Storage notes that it only uses Tier 1 components, so it should offer a reliable solution.
Terry Chen, head of overseas storage business at Trina Solar, commented: “We will see exponential growth in the renewable energy industry in the next few years as energy needs increase. Storage is the only solution that can support this transition effectively. Therefore, customers need a trusted storage supplier with a profound knowledge of the energy industry.
How does Trina Storage compare to its competition?
There are some significant differences between Trina Storage’s approach to another brand offering a one-stop shop, such as Tesla.
Firstly the battery chemistry is significantly different between the two companies. While Tesla uses a lithium-ion NMC battery in its energy storage solutions, Trina Storage is set to utilise LFP batteries.
There are some key advantages that Trina Storage boasts by using LFP batteries, as they typically last a lot longer than NMC batteries. In fact, their longevity is ideal for energy storage, as you can often exceed 10 years worth of use, not to mention the fact that they hold their charge while idle for a lot longer.
Additionally, LFP batteries are less impacted by the cold, with the capability to operate at a much lower temperature approx. -4.4 degrees C to 70 degree Celsius.
It’s not all advantages, however. This stability means you lose out on energy density, which is why Tesla still offers one of the most energy dense energy storage solutions on the market.