Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) ("Trina Solar" or "the Company"), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products from ingots to modules, today announced a new Ontario sales and business development office as the Company also announces a partnership with Silfab Ontario, enabling Trina Solar to offer world-class modules that are locally-manufactured for the Canadian market.
Trina Solar's establishment of a Canadian subsidiary, Trina Solar (Canada) Inc., represents the Company's commitment to the Canadian solar PV market. Fueled by a forward-thinking feed-in tariff, Ontario has become the second largest North American solar PV market after California.
"Trina Solar sees the Canadian market as an opportunity to expand our sales efforts and create local jobs by providing clean energy that fights global warming," said Mark Paddison, Trina Solar's newly appointed company representative who has nearly three decades of experience working in Canadian and American PV sectors. "We foresee strong growth for the Canadian industry that could reach 1GW by 2015. We look forward to participating more directly in the growth of the industry and to collaborating with our Canadian partners to bring solar PV to the next level of adoption and popularity."
The Company establishes Trina Solar (Canada) Inc. on the heels of recognition by three organizations for its sustainable practices, corporate viability and field performance. The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, in its annual global review of sustainable manufacturing practices, ranked the Company first among solar panel manufacturers throughout the world. The Company also placed first in PRTM's Sustainable Growth Index Field Performance, indicating the company's strong financial outlook. Finally, Trina Solar's panels placed first on the California Energy Commission's PTC/STC ratio that estimates real-world panel performance.
"Trina Solar's world-class modules have proven that they deliver the performance that customers need," said Mark Kingsley, Trina Solar's Chief Commercial Officer. "Bringing our award-winning modules will help the Canadian market grow and is the perfect extension of our commitment to solar in all of North America."
Trina Solarenters Canada with a strong panel portfolio that includes the company's new Honey technology. Developed with advances in multicrystalline cell technology, Trina Solar's new Honey modules deliver world record-setting power output. These results firmly establish the high performing Honey panels as best in their class.
Along with Trina Solar's new presence in Canada, Trina Solar, through its subsidiary Trina Solar Energy Development Pte. Ltd, has signed an OEM partnership for final assembly with Silfab Ontario, a Canadian company with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. Trina Solar conducted an extensive review process that involved internal and external supply chain and quality control teams to verify that Silfab meets Trina Solar's rigorous standards. As a Trina-certified supply chain partner, Silfab is expected to supply Trina Solar with sufficient production capacity to support the Canadian market throughout the partnership.
"We have found a reliable and experienced partner in Trina Solar, a company that shares our belief in long-term collaboration," said Franco Traverso, Silfab Ontario founder. "Our mutual commitment to producing world-class quality products is the basis of our partnership. Together, we can work to best serve one of the most challenging and fastest growing PV markets in the world."
This partnership is part of Trina Solar's long-term strategy for Canada. The Company seeks to build strong customer relationships and work with a network of downstream PV companies to help grow the Canadian solar industry.
All parties interested in learning more about Trina Solar's locally-manufactured modules for the Canadian market may contact Mark Paddison at mark.paddison@trinasolar.com.
