Trina scores top spot on 2012 Green Scorecard

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC) has awarded the No. 1 spot on its 2012 Solar Scorecard to Trina Solar, the company has announced. In its third year, the SVTC Scorecard system is aimed at improving PV manufacturers' social performance and environmental awareness of the impact of their manufacturing processes and practices.

Consumers, investors and installers can access the Scorecard to gain information about how manufacturers perform in terms of sustainability and social justice in order to make decisions when purchasing PV modules.

“We are very proud of our top ranking in this leading environmental survey, which reflects sustainability improvement efforts from all our operating areas,” said Jifan Gao, chairman and CEO of Trina Solar. “As PV Solar adoption expands into new markets and regions, we are committed to adding innovation and value both inside and outside the module, which includes our EHS and Corporate Social Responsibility practices.”

In addition, Trina Solar entered into a partnership with Germany-based energy storage producer E3/DC, the company has announced. The companies will jointly develop a new generation of energy storage solutions. After the launch of the Trinamount system in 2011 and, more recently, the Trinasmart solution, the company is now “excited about this new collaboration” to develop storage solutions, mainly aimed at smaller commercial systems and homes, as Ben Hill of Trina Solar Europe commented. “Storage is a key technology going forward. It helps to balance solar energy generation with consumption. Customers thus become independent from rising energy costs. We see increasing interest in storage solutions and wish to be at the forefront of this development.”

The collaboration offers advantages for both companies: Trina gains access to expertise in storage technologies and E3/DC is ensured exposure to Trina’s global presence.