Interview with Gonzalo de la Viña, Head of European Module Business, Trina Solar (Schweiz) AG - Intersolar AWARD Finalist 2021, Categorie: Photovoltaics, with their product: The Vertex S Ultra-High Performance Module for Rooftops
Briefly describe your innovation. For whom is the product suitable? What is the target group and what is the target market?
The Vertex S series module mainly targets the residential and C&I market. Within the rooftop segment is meant to provide a high power and highly efficient solution to maximize the power installed on the available space. It combines all long-term technology drivers like the 210mm cell technology that is meant to further optimize the overall cost per kWh produced. As a compact, highly reliable and versatile product, Vertex S is the foundation for coming product generations, continuing to drive the future of PV products.
What was the trigger for your innovation? What problem does your innovation solve?
The trigger to develop this product was to establish the new 210mm technology platform across all market segments in the PV industry. We are focusing on creating a new standardized product platform, which can be used to develop a wide range of products but is also flexible for future innovations. This product is designed to utilize the available space in the best possible way and offers highest reliability and highest flexibility for a huge range of installation situations. The compact dimensions and low weight enable installers to handle the Vertex S module in difficult working environments. The electrical characteristics make system design and layouts an easy task since they are already known from former product generations, so Vertex S is really easy to get used to.
How does your innovation fit into the trends of the industry in Europe / worldwide?
PV is contributing a lot to generate the world’s electricity demand based on renewable energy with a long lasting and sustainable technology. This product is a major step forward in efficiency and power and it guides into the future of next generation solar panels with an extremely high potential to drive down costs and to keep energy prices at an affordable level.
What will be the next step in the development?
Establishing a product range together with a technology platform which will set a new standard in this industry segment. The Vertex platform has the flexibility to easily roll out new and more efficient cell technologies based on the same big 210mm wafer size. This allows to keep the product itself as a framework and combine it with newly developed high end cell technologies to achieve even high-power output.