Trina Solar recently collaborated with Alba Renova to complete a 2 MW PV roof installation for Barcos, a frozen food company in Spain. The system is the largest of its kind in Navarra, and it proves one thing: energy self-consumption for businesses is possible and profitable for all. 

Trina Solar is committed to providing the world with high-performing renewable energy technology and working with partners who share our vision for a cleaner and greener future. That made us a perfect fit for solar energy installer Alba Renova and Barcos, their client in the food sector, so we supplied them with our Vertex Bifacial solar modules to get the job done. The result for Barcos was a 2 MW PV rooftop installation — the largest of its kind in Navarra, Spain.

Solar PV: Sending Performance Through the Roof

By leveraging their rooftop space to meet power requirements, companies improve their operations in many ways. Some are economic, some are social, and some are environmental, but whatever benefit they achieve, the outcome is the same: installing rooftop PV makes businesses better. Here's how:

• Greater savings. Going solar may be an investment up front, but tax incentives and government programs have made the payback period shorter than ever. The savings are climbing even higher as the true cost of fossil-fuel-derived power is passed on to the customer — a cost that can be stabilized as companies use PV to lock in their long-term electricity expenses.
• Revenue opportunities. Self-consuming companies make only enough power for themselves, but those that produce extra power may improve profitability by selling the remainder back to the grid. This opens up new channels for revenue, and other incentives like carbon credits can improve profit margins too. 
• Better branding. Installing rooftop PV systems on a company’s buildings can even have a positive impact on its sales performance. An environmentally conscious brand image can resonate with customers, making them more likely to buy their products.
• Fewer emissions. Perhaps most importantly, installing rooftop PV reduces the amount of greenhouse gasses (GHG) released into the atmosphere, combating climate change and making our world a cleaner place. 

The Alba Renova project demonstrated that energy self-consumption for businesses is not only feasible but a strategic move for ensuring environmental and corporate sustainability.

The Project: Barcos Frozen Foods

Barcos Alimentos Congelados, Alba Renova's Spanish client, is a leader in the food industry, one of the more energy-intensive sectors. Often facing multiple stringent temperature and process requirements, food and beverage suppliers must carefully control each phase of production for their goods to be deemed food-grade safe. That means high power consumption — and the utility costs that come with it.

Barcos recognized their need for a cost-effective alternative to the rising price of electricity derived from fossil fuels and wanted to be part of the solution to the climate change crisis as well. Also aware of Spain's high irradiation, which makes them ideal for solar power, they decided to install a rooftop PV system that could meet their needs. The project's requirements included:

• Size. The power demands called for a 2 MW-large installation, with the generated energy to be completely self-consumed on site. That meant they needed 3,700 of our Vertex Bifacial dual-glass solar modules, making this rooftop solar system the largest of its kind in Navarra.
• Smarts. Industrial PV systems like this must intelligently coordinate the power consumption across a facility's entire processes and systems. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) software infrastructure comprised of a vast network of sensors and smart technology was implemented to optimize power management, sending electricity where it's needed the most. 
• Sales. Unlike so many companies who spend more money greenwashing to make themselves appear environmentally conscious, Barcos gave tangible proof to their customers that they're committed to sustainability — a commitment customers will likely reward with their loyalty.
• Strength. The double glass structure has numerous advantages in terms of resistance to the most severe weather conditions. This makes it a very reliable choice in the long term and it comes with a 30-year extended power warranty for decades of peace of mind. The fact that an organization in the agri-food sector was able to achieve this sustainability is also noteworthy, as the cold storage and refrigeration so often used in these facilities can require significant power consumption. By meeting the cold storage and refrigeration requirements along with the rest of the manufacturing processes involved, this company gave a clear answer to the question, “Is energy self-consumption for businesses possible?” That answer: a resounding yes.

Download project fact sheet here

The Product: Vertex Bifacial dual-glass solar modules

When Alba Renova was approached by Barcos to deliver an industrial rooftop PV system that could meet such a high standard, they knew that they would need a supplier who could offer high-efficiency, long-lasting PV panels at a price they could afford. That’s why they looked to us.

At Trina Solar, our experts have decades of experience in innovative solar solutions and know that the requirements of each user may vary depending on the application. That’s why we have recently launched our new Vertex panel series tailored to the specific needs of self-consumption industrial rooftops (TSM-DE19R and TSM-DEG19RC.20).

High efficiency

This Vertex solar module series is designed to maximize the number of kW that can be installed on industrial rooftops. We have incorporated a number of innovations in the design of these high-power panels that allow us to achieve 580 W and an efficiency of 21.5%.

Cost optimization

At Trina Solar we know that a high quality product allows for greater savings in the long term. But not only that, a good panel design also allows us to optimize the other costs of a photovoltaic installation, thus reducing the initial investment. How? The Vertex series panels are designed considering the impact they have on the overall costs of a project. Therefore this new series presents a series of mechanical and electrical characteristics that allow reducing costs of transportation, wiring, structure, or labour.

All this innovation proves that a high efficiency and top quality installation is not incompatible with a highly profitable investment.

Durability

Vertex modules are designed to withstand harsh environments such as salt, ammonia, sand and areas of high temperature and humidity, thus ensuring long-term energy production. In addition, as is the case with the panels used by Alba Renova, the new Vertex series is also available in a dual-glass version. When a superior solar cell is matched with a robust double glass structure, the result is a solar module that lasts longer. This durability is especially important in more extreme climates and near manufacturing facilities that may have emissions that could degrade the cell. It's also why our double-glass Vertex series has an estimated lifetime of more than 30 years, which we are proud to back up with our 12-year manufacturing warranty and our 30-year extended power warranty.

Affordability 

Trina Solar understands that higher-quality products result in greater savings down the road. Our customers understand that too, and they expect nothing less than PV products that will save them money throughout their investment. The Vertex Bifacial series offers multiple benefits to its users, including:

• More power output
• Stable electricity costs
• Shorter payback time
• Higher ROI

All that innovation proves that a high-efficiency solar module like the Vertex Bifacial series isn't just for better tech; it's for more profit.

The proof: Energy self-consumption for businesses is possible — and profitable

Collaboration will be essential as we move forward to solve the looming climate crisis. The challenge is immense, but so are the opportunities for innovation, social justice, profit, and making our world a better place.

Trina Solar recognizes these opportunities, and we relish stepping up to the challenge and working with partners who share our vision for a cleaner, more prosperous tomorrow today. We found those partners in Alba Renova and their agri-food client, Barcos Frozen Foods, and worked together to show that energy self-consumption for businesses is not just feasible; it's just good business and the right thing to do.

If you'd like to join us in a partnership like that, contact us today, and let's make our world a little brighter for all.