CHANGZHOU, China, Jan. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL) (“Trina Solar” or the “Company”), a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, founded in 1997, announced today the following updates relating to its previously stated capacity, operational, and technology roadmap targets that were achieved in the quarter ended December 31, 2007:
-- 150MW integrated capacity achieved for ingot, wafer, cell and module
production
-- Successful ramp up of new cell production lines No. 3-6
-- Increased in-house cell processing to over 75% for the Q4 2007
production
-- Realized in-house cell efficiency rates of up to 17.0%
(monocrystalline) and 15.6% (multicrystalline)
-- Commenced commercial production of 220-watt multicrystalline-based
modules
“We are extremely pleased to have reached several operational goals in the fourth quarter of 2007,” said Trina Solar’s Chairman and CEO, Jifan Gao. “We achieved all-time highs in both in-house cell efficiency and output rates for our six cell manufacturing lines, which will have notable impact on our margin expansion. Going forward, we will continue to focus on decreasing module manufacturing costs through additional gains in cell efficiencies, reduced polysilicon usage, and production scale advantages achieved by the execution of our technology roadmap. These advancements will continue to be driven by technology transfer, operational synergies and quality assurance advantages provided through our vertical manufacturing platform.”
2008 Sales and Technology Roadmap Update
As of this date, the Company has pre-sold 100% and 75% of its first and second half 2008 targeted module production, respectively, representing approximately 85% of its targeted module production of 200-210 MW for 2008.
The Company plans to initiate production tests of 180 micron wafers and cells in the first half of the year, with goals to reduce thickness to 140 and 160 microns by 2010 for its mono- and multicrystalline-based cells, respectively. Cell efficiency rates are expected to reach approximately 19% and 18% by 2010 for mono- and multicrystalline-based cells, respectively, yielding module power to approximately 240-250 watts. In December 2007, the Company’s existing and newly launched multicrystalline cell lines achieved average cell efficiency rates of 16.6% and 15.3%, respectively.
2008 and 2009 Silicon Feedstock
The Company has now secured over 80% of its estimated silicon feedstock requirements for 2008, an equivalent of approximately 165MW based on a module production target of 200-210MW of module output. Through its established supply channels and proprietary in-house processes, the Company continues to source up to 80% of its feedstock requirements from reclaimed silicon sources, resulting in cost savings of 30-50% over the spot market cost for virgin polysilicon. For its 2009 planned module production of 400MW, the Company has secured approximately 60% of its total feedstock requirements, or an equivalent of approximately 240MW. The Company’s long-term polysilicon contracts currently account for over 40% of its total 2009 silicon requirements.
About Trina Solar Limited
Trina Solar Limited (NYSE: TSL), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co. Ltd., is a well recognized manufacturer of high quality modules and has a long history as a solar PV pioneer since it was founded in 1997 as a system installation company. Trina Solar is currently one of the few PV manufacturers that has developed a vertically integrated business model from the production of monocrystalline and multicrystalline ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of high quality modules. This integrated value chain helps to ensure that high quality products can be delivered to its end customers around the globe, including a number of European countries, such as Germany, Spain and Italy. Trina Solar’s solar modules provide reliable and environmentally-friendly electric power for residential, commercial, industrial and other applications worldwide. Trina Solar successfully completed its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange in December, 2006 and its ADSs are traded under the ticker symbol TSL. For further information, please visit Trina Solar’s website at http://www.trinasolar.com .
Safe Harbor Statement
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the company’s ability to raise additional capital to finance the company’s activities; the effectiveness, profitability, and marketability of its products; the future trading of the securities of the company; the ability of the company to operate as a public company; the period of time for which its current liquidity will enable the company to fund its operations; the company’s ability to protect its proprietary information; general economic and business conditions; the volatility of the company’s operating results and financial condition; the company’s ability to attract or retain qualified senior management personnel and research and development staff; and other risks detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the companies and the industry. The company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or to changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward looking statements are reasonable, they cannot assure you that their expectations will turn out to be correct, and investors are cautioned that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.
For more information, please contact:
Trina Solar Limited
Mr. Sean Shao, CFO
Tel: +86-519-8548-6752 (Changzhou)
Mr. Thomas Young, Director of Investor Relations
Tel: +86-519-8548-6752 (Changzhou)
Email: ir@trinasolar.com
CCG Elite Investor Relations
Mr. Crocker Coulson, President
Tel: +1-646-213-1915
Email: crocker.coulson@ccgir.com
Ed Job, CFA
Tel: +1-646-213-1914
Email: ed.job@ccgir.com
