Trinasolar Debuts Extreme Climate Resilient Module For Australia

Trinasolar, a global smart photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage solutions provider, has unveiled a new solar technology designed to protect utility-scale PV plants from Australia’s increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather.

The Shield Extreme Climate Solution, introduced at the Smart Energy Conference in Sydney on April 9-10, combines reinforced structural modules with intelligent weather-responsive tracking. The product is designed and tested specifically for the Australian market, with trials conducted in Queensland.

Hail, Wind, Snow Protection

The Shield Extreme Climate Module (NED19RC.20) features 25% thicker glass than standard modules and is 2.5 times more resistant to energy impact. The module’s frame design boosts its load-bearing capacity and overall durability. In severe hail conditions, it can withstand hailstones up to 55mm in diameter at a 0° angle and up to 75mm at 60°. The system’s tracker can automatically adjust to protective angles based on severe hail forecasts.

The smart control system, powered by TrinaTracker’s self-developed Tracker Control Unit (TCU) and Network Control Unit (NCU), uses real-time data from a cloud platform to deploy protection strategies. In high winds, the system shifts to a stow position, with angles tailored to wind intensity. The design can handle wind pressure up to +8000Pa and -6000Pa in fixed-mount installations.

For snow conditions, the system can withstand up to 2.2 meters of uneven snow in fixed mounting. In tracker-mounted installations, real-time snow thickness is monitored, and operations and maintenance (O&M) teams can trigger snow removal remotely. The structural design includes triple-beam installation and dual fastening to enhance resilience, while mechanical load capacity reaches +3600/-3000Pa.

Improved performance and project economics

Trinasolar claims the solution improves plant reliability while lowering balance of system (BOS) costs and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). According to a testbed from Queensland, the setup increased customer value by AUD 0.0364/W and reduced LCOE by 2.84%.

The system leverages Trinasolar’s i-TOPCon Ultra technology for improved low-light performance and higher bifaciality, enhancing electricity generation during mornings, evenings, and overcast conditions. The integrated SuperTrack algorithm further boosts output using AI, big data, and proprietary tracking logic.

New energy storage solution

Trinasolar also introduced the Elementa 2 Pro, a 5MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) for the Australian market. Building on the Elementa 2, the new version uses Trina’s 314Ah cell and offers 15,000 cycles—up from 12,000 in the previous model. It includes hybrid air-liquid cooling for improved thermal regulation and extended battery lifespan.