Trina Solar splits downstream project business, CEO’s brother takes charge of China segment

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
'Super league' module manufacturer Trina Solar's modules on a rooftop PV plant. Image: THiNKnrg.

Integrated PV module manufacturer Trina Solar will divide its downstream project development business to two separate entities.

The company announced this morning that it will split its System Business Unit (SBU) into a division focusing on China and another for international projects.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

Trina Solar, one of a handful of module makers dubbed the ‘super league’ with multiple gigawatts of production capacity, said it also wants to become a top player in the downstream business.

The company’s China SBU will focus on ground-mounted projects, from development and sales to engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M). The international segment will focus on developing projects, Trina Solar said today.

Some restructuring of the executive board has taken place to facilitate the changes, with company vice president Jiqing Gao appointed head of the Chinese division. The head of the previously existing global SBU, Qi Lin, who was also the overall group’s vice president, has resigned. Trina Solar’s CEO Jifan Gao thanked Lin for his contribution to the company and wished him well in future endeavours.

Trina Solar said Jiqing Gao – who is Jifan’s brother according  – had experience in areas of the business including manufacturing quality management from his previous roles in various departments of the company, including serving as vice president of the global SBU under Qi Lin.

In what has been a busy recent period for Trina Solar, company president Jifan Gao proposed a management buyout of the company in a week in which it also set a new mono-crystalline silicon cell efficiency record and exited the EU- China minimum import price (MIP) undertaking.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Jifan Gao said that the China and international downstream businesses were both “strategically important” yet “very different”.

“I believe that the new structure will lay a strong foundation for sustainable growth for our downstream business,” Gao said.

Read Next

September 9, 2025
The average price of solar modules sold in Europe fell marginally between July and August, while buyers’ confidence remained steady.
September 8, 2025
Vaisala has launched a new hail alert system aimed at solar operators grappling with an increasingly costly problem for PV installations.
Premium
September 4, 2025
Analysis: A Biden-era policy to suspend the payment of duties on Southeast Asian module imports looks set to backfire badly on an already under-pressure US solar industry.
September 4, 2025
ARENA has launched the second funding round of its AU$1 billion Solar Sunshot programme, making AU$150 million available.
September 3, 2025
LONGi, Jinko Solar, Trina Solar and JA Solar posted combined net losses of nearly RMB11 billion (US$1.54 billion) in H1 2025.
September 1, 2025
Solar Organic Centro España is planning to build a 10GW solar module and battery manufacturing facility in the Spanish autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines