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Trina Solar panels review 2025: Benefits of science
- Updated: Feb 17, 2025
- Created: Feb 19, 2022
- 12 min
Edited by: Andrei Gorichenskii
Top solar manufacturers in the world are Chinese, and among top Chinese brands there is always Trina Solar. What's the reason behind this company being so successful and continuously making the Top 5 of the largest solar companies? Let’s find out. We are going to take a close look at the Trina Solar product, evaluate its strong qualities and nitpick about every single weak point. Here comes our Trina Solar panels review.
Key takeaways
- Trina Solar is a leading Chinese brand consistently ranked among the top 5 largest monocrystalline solar panel manufacturers, known for advanced solar cell technology and designs.
- They focus on producing reliable high-output modules primarily for large-scale projects, with a strong emphasis on bifacial modules that can boost energy production by up to 30% in the same area.
- Trina Solar offers an above-average energy conversion rating, ranging from 20% to 23%, and their modules are generally more affordable than many competitors.
- Their warranty support is standard, offering 12-25 years for product defects and 25 years for performance (30 years for bifacial models).
- Trina Solar panels are also recognized for their attractive design.
Trina Solar dominates China and is expanding to the world
Trina Solar was founded in 1997 in Changzhou, China. It is a solar giant with about 50,000 employees around the world. The company consistently makes the Top 5 list of the world’s largest solar manufacturers. It is a member of the Silicon Module Super League (SMSL), the group of the world’s largest photovoltaics suppliers. The original six members are Trina, Canadian Solar, Hanwha Q CELLS, JA Solar, Jinko Solar, and Yingli Solar.
Trina Solar sets world records
Trina Solar is responsible for at least 21 world records in solar cell efficiency and production since 2011, according to the profile page of the company. The list of innovations that the company brought to the table include:
N-type vs P-type solar cells: What are these?• Improvement on N-type cells. In 2019 Trina introduced the N-type i-TOPCon bifacial solar cell that has set a record of 23.22% conversion efficiency. N-type solar cells of Trina panels are less susceptible to Light Induced Degradation (LID) which occurs when the module is first exposed to the sun. As a result, Trina Solar N-type panels lose less output in the first year of service.
• Multi Busbars technology. Trina is a pioneer of the MBB technology. Traditional ribbon busbars somewhat shade a cell, so Trina engineers replaced ribbons with wires. This also allowed reducing the usage of expensive silver paste by 50-80% which lowered the costs of a module.
Trina Solar panels: Modern ≠ expensive
Bifacial modules give you 5-30% more production compared to monofacial panels
The Chinese brand offers modules for all kinds of applications, though there is a certain emphasis on powerful panels for commercial and industrial installations. The product line is diverse enough and there are even bifacial panels for sale. They are great for systems of a larger scope because they give you 5-30% more production for the same space as monofacial modules.
20%–23%
efficiency
The efficiency of Trina Solar panels looks alright. It varies from 20% to 23%, with their best modules competing for highest efficiency numbers in the industry. Their latest panel Vertex is promised to have 23.2% maximum efficiency which is an impressive rate.
$0.6–$0.8
per watt
Trina solar panels prices are low for the industry, somewhere aroundJA Solarand LONGi Solar. The exact cost depends on the model, but it can vary from $0.6 to $0.8 per watt. Again, the emphasis of a company is on high-output modules, which partially explains low cost per watt.
12-25-year product warranty, up to 30 years for performance
The warranties for Trina Solar panels are nothing special. You get your standard 12-year product warranty and 25-year performance warranty. Bifacial modules get a 30-year output warranty. Some models from Trina Solar can boast a 25-year product warranty.
Degradation rate of Trina Solar panels is basically the same for all models: they lose 0.55% per year which gives you over 83.1% of rated power output in 25 years. Some models reach a 0.4% degradation rate, keeping over 87% after 30 years, which is much better. It is slightly lower than the average numbers of 0.7%–0.8% in the industry, but premium high-quality brands Q CELLS, Panasonic, REC do much better.
Apart from PV modules, Trina Solar produces solar trackers and batteries
When it comes to weather dependence, nothing really stands out with the Trina Solar panel. The temperature coefficient with most panels is around -0.36%/°C which is completely standard for the industry; it’s not like Trina panels are going to be the best in hot conditions. Most of their panels can handle up to 5600 Pa positive load which is enough to survive most tornadoes and hurricanes of a small and medium scale.
Are there any financial incentives for solar panels?
Considering solar panels but concerned about cost? Chinese-made panels were previously a budget-friendly option, but recent import tariffs could increase their price, moving them into a mid-range category. Despite this, financial incentives can still make solar a viable investment for customers. The Federal Solar Tax Credit, for instance, allows you to deduct 30% of your installation costs from your federal taxes. There are also some state-specific solar incentive programs, as these can provide additional savings. Read more about solar incentives in different states.
Trina Solar panels: Pros
Since we’ve already looked at product qualities, we may now list down stronger and weaker sides of Trina Solar panels. Let’s start with what’s good about them:
• High output modules. Most panels in the Trina Solar product line are more than 400W in power. Look at the Vertex model – have you ever seen a 700+W panel before?
• Extremely modern, highly efficient modules. Trina engineers move solar technologies forward and do not hesitate to implement innovations into their panels. As a result, Vertex is one of the most efficient panels on the market with a 23% energy conversion rate.
• Low price. Trina Solar panels fit even modest budgets and provide great payback, given their high power output.
Trina Solar panels: Cons
A review would feel incomplete without a list of cons and points of concern about the Trina Solar product. Here they are:
Looking for “the One”: How to check the quality of a solar panel• Warranties of Trina Solar panels are just standard. However, a 15-year product warranty for the latest Vertex model with a possible extension to 25 years looks very good.
• Trina Solar had a series of quality issues with panels that were manufactured between 2011 and 2014. Panels suffered from Potential Induced Degradation (PID), water ingress and backsheet degradation. After 2014 there haven't been any problems like this, but apparently, this series of incidents is going to remain a stain on Trina Solar's reputation.
Trina Solar panels overview: For all applications
Time to move from specifications to the panels themselves. As usual, we asked our engineer to take a look at a few models and share his thoughts.
Vertex S 380-405W — Solar start
This model is a good option for a home solar system or a small commercial PV installation for your cafe or shop. The Trina Solar 390W module has a sleek design and shows good resilience to harsh weather. Half-cut cell design ensures better performance when shaded. The model comes with a 25-year output warranty and a 25-year product warranty which is unusually high for Trina panels.
Vertex bifacial dual glass 535-555W — Your business partner
This 535-555W bifacial panel makes it a great choice for commercial-size installations where you want to squeeze as much production from the available space as possible. Back side gives up to 25% more production, depending on how well the surface reflects the light. While its 20.5-21.2% efficiency is fair enough, it’s not the highest available on the market. Although the 12-year product warranty is standard, the impressive 30-year performance warranty, guaranteeing 85% output by year 30, makes this panel a strong long-term investment.
Vertex N-type i-TOPCon bifacial dual glass 695-720W — The power like you’ve never seen before
What is a solar farm and how much money can it make youVertex panel impresses just by the fact it exists: a 720W power rating from one panel is not something you see every day. But here it is: Vertex provides 695-720W power output with up to 23.2% efficiency. The warranty is pretty standard though – 12 years for product and 30 years for performance with over 87% of initial output by year 30.
A1 SolarStore recommends Trina Vertex S+ 420W Bifacial TRI-TSM-420-NE09RC05
In stock
18% OFF
Trina 420W Solar Panel 144 Cell Bifacial TRI-TSM-420-NE09RC05 Clearance
- Price per Watt$0.41
- Rated Power Output 420 W
- Voltage (VOC)50.9V
- Number of cells144
- Cell TypeMonocrystalline
Pickup on Mon, Feb 24 from Pompano Beach, FL
Delivery on Feb 27 – Mar 04
What is dual-use solar? More than just solar panelsThis Trina Vertex S+ 420W bifacial solar panel is a great option for homeowners, offering increased power generation thanks to its bifacial design. Unlike conventional panels that absorb light from one side, bifacial modules like this one harness energy from both sides simultaneously, optimizing energy capture. Its 21% efficiency is good enough for a home system, and the 25-year warranty covering both product and performance provides excellent peace of mind. With guaranteed output of 89% after 25 years, this panel represents a reliable long-term investment for residential solar systems.
A1 SolarStore verdict: Trina Solar moves industry forward
Time to round up our Trina Solar panel review. What do we end up with? Let’s list the most important points about the brand and its product:
- Trina Solar is a Chinese brand.
- It consistently makes the Top 5 of the largest solar manufacturers.
- Trina Solar is famous for improvements on n-type solar cells and multi busbars technology.
- The brand has set numerous records in solar panels efficiency and production.
- There is an emphasis on high-output modules for projects of a large scope.
- Trina Solar seems to be really into bifacial modules. These can bring up to 30% more production for the same space.
- Energy conversion rate of Trina panels is above average: 20%-23%. The maximum efficiency of a Trina module is 23.2%, which is among the highest numbers on the market.
- Trina Solar panels are on the cheaper side of the market. The cost per watt usually doesn’t go over $0.8.
- Warranties are standard: 12-25 years for product and 25 years for performance (30 for bifacial).
- Degradation rate is slightly better than average: 0.55-0.4% power loss per year. Panels usually retain over 83% of their initial output after 25 years.
- Weather resilience of Trina Solar seems like nothing special. 5600 Pa of maximum positive load is enough to handle most tornadoes and hurricanes of small and medium scale.
- The company had a series of quality issues between 2011 and 2014. Nothing too problematic has happened ever since.
- Trina Solar panels usually have a very good design.
Overall, Trina Solar looks like a great Chinese solar company — though it may seem a bit typical with their desire to make panels as cheap and efficient as possible. It is great to see their engineers move solar technologies forward and set records for production and conversion rate. Yeah, the quality issues story is there, but it was almost 10 years ago, drop it already!
Today Trina Solar panels are modern, cheap, good-looking and productive; the company has all the reasons to be in the list of the world’s best solar manufacturers. On that note, we end our 2025 Trina Solar panels review and will be back with more.
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☀️ Trina solar panels vs Tesla
☀️ Canadian Solar panels vs Trina Solar
Andrey Gorichenski
Senior Editor
Andrey had been a news editor and freelance writer for a number of medias before joining A1 SolarStore team. Climate change and its impact on people's lives has always been among his interests and it partially explains his degree in Philosophy and Ethics.
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