Trina Solar has quickly become a key player in the local solar industry, and was recently an integral part of the creation of Africa's largest industrial grid-tied solar plant.

The roof-mounted system was assigned by Belgotex Floorcoverings at their Pietermaritzburg KwaZulu Natal-based manufacturing facility, and the project was developed by Sustainable Power Solutions. Trina Solar was selected as sole supplier of over 4000 245W PV modules, for the complete installation of the 1 megawatt, 100 000 m rooftop project.

Belgotex Floorcoverings undertook the project as part of their Africa strategy to offset their carbon emissions by 5%. The daily solar energy now generated to power the facility is the equivalent to the power used by an estimated 700 average households.

The Trina Solar PC05 60 cell modules that were used in the installation are also known as "the universal module" due to their versatility. One of the industries' most trusted and awarded PV modules, over 2GW of the PC05 have been installed across the globe.

The modules' high level of reliability is reinforced by a range of stringent quality control measures, ensuring that the modules are certified to withstand challenging environmental conditions, as well as maintaining their power output during low-light periods.

For this project, Sustainable Power Solutions needed to partner with a tier-1 PV supplier with a strong global supply network as well as an established local footprint.

"As one of the largest manufacturers of solar modules in the world, Trina Solar was well placed to deliver the required panels on time. This, combined with the excellent efficiency, performance, and quality standards of our panels - as well as offering a wide range of solutions and services - meant that were the ideal partner for the project," says Ben Hill, Head of Europe and Africa for Trina Solar.

As in any newly established industry, it is the true pioneers such as Belgotex that lead the way for others. "The fact that Belgotex chose to use PV technology, a relatively new concept in South African renewable energies, was a bold step," Hill continues.

"This project was instrumental in demonstrating PV's potential to other local companies seeking power solutions that not only reduce costs, but also minimize electricity consumption and an organization's carbon footprint. This was illustrated by the fact that Belgotex's PV installation project has successfully resulted in the reduction of 1,386 tons from the company's carbon emissions each year, as a result of their move away from coal produced electricity."

Hill advises corporations to choose their partners wisely when undertaking significant energy projects. "On any large scale project such as this one which will operate for 20 years, where major commercial companies and finance institutions are involved, it is a vital requirement that you work with tier-one, financially stable partners who can, without any doubt, see a project through from initiation to completion.

"This is also significant on an on-going basis where aspects such as future projects, support and warranties need to be taken into consideration. It is crucial that you are confident that you will receive the same level of service throughout any project as well as further down the line," Hill concludes.