Trina Solar leads establishment of new SEMI standards

CHINA: Trina Solar Ltd announced that the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) has approved two standards submitted by Trina Solar.

The standards are: the "Specification for Packaging Protection Technology for PV Modules" (SEMI PV44-0513) and the "Test Method for the Content of Vinyl Acetate (VA) in Ethylene-vinyl Acetate (EVA) Applied in PV Modules Using Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA)" (SEMI PV45-0513).

Trina Solar is the first PV company in China to lead the establishment of an international SEMI standard.

The first specification aids in the standardization of packaging particularly during the transportation of PV modules while the second specification guarantees minimum quality standards around poly ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Both standards aim to ensure greater consistency across the industry.

"The establishment of the new standards is a milestone in the development of both Chinese and International SEMI standards," said James Amano, senior director, International Standards and EHS at SEMI. "The standards reflect the success of increased global collaboration undertaken in recent years."

"We are proud to be the first PV company in China to establish new international SEMI standards," said Wei Zhou, VP \of Quality at Trina Solar. "As an industry leader, Trina Solar is committed to contributing to and supporting the scientific development and technological progress of the PV industry. We developed these two standards based on our long industry experience. We believe the standards will help the industry continue to meet growing customer needs for more efficient and environmentally sustainable PV solutions."

At its first plenary session in February 2012, the SEMI China PV Committee accepted two proposals for new standards submitted by Trina Solar. The committee also approved the establishment of the Crystalline Silicon PV Module Task Force, which will be led by Trina Solar.

The company spearheaded the drafting of the standards and the development of joint testing and verification of technical indicators. The standards were technically approved by the Photovoltaic Global Technical Committee and later approved for publication by the global Audits and Reviews Subcommittee in May 2013.