- Editors choice 2022 (Trina Solar range).
Unlocking a new dimension in advanced module design, the Trina Vertex S plus offers prospective investors something, unlike anything Trina has provided before. Intriguingly, there’s more to the Vertex S plus than the new generation N-Type TOPCon technology many now seek, and the numbers tell a momentous story that is hard to ignore, towards a solar module that offers an overall elite product rating.
Model:
Trina Vertex S plus.
Variants:
Vertex S plus (NEG9.28); 400 – 425 W.
TLDR:
Trina’s most evolved solar module design yet provides a beautifully well-rounded product for those seeking high-end specifications at a (potentially) mid-range price. An outstanding glass-glass encapsulate design poised to be influential to other competing brands.
Features:
Glass-glass cell encapsulation, n-type monocrystalline, improved product guarantee (25-yr) and performance guarantee (30-yr).
The following detailed product analysis for the Trina Vertex S plus should be used as a guide only. Individual circumstances and compatibilities must always be taken into account when selecting the ideal solar module. This content comprises the Solar Analytica Assessment Criteria (solar modules) based on available product specifications at compilation (refer to post date).
Skip to Overall and Summary.
1. Design: 96/100
Sub-Category | Characteristic | Reference | Class. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cell Type
| N-Type monocrystalline. | Vertex S plus datasheet section; Mechanical Data, Solar Cells (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Cell Configuration | 210mm wafer. 120 x 1/3 cells. | Vertex S plus datasheet section; Mechanical Data, No. of Cells (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat3) | 80 |
Contact | Advanced multi-busbar. | Vertex S plus datasheet (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat4) | 90 |
Enhanced | TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact). | Vertex S plus datasheet (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Encapsulation | Glass-glass; 1.6mm High Transmission, AR Coated Heat Strengthened Glass (front) superstrate WITH 1.6mm Heat Strengthened Glass (black) substrate. | Vertex S plus datasheet section; Mechanical Data, Front Glass/Encapsulate material/Back Glass (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Certifications | TÜV SÜD | Reference documents. | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Awards | Specific Recognition; Solar Analytica Editors Choice Award 2022 Trina Solar Vertex S plus. | Press release (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Design Overall | Trina Vertex S plus | Above Avg (Cat5) | 96/100 | |
Sub-Category: Product asset which compiles the category. Characteristic: Scoring characteristic/gauge of the Sub-Category. Reference: Reference material from which the sub-category Characteristic has been derived. Class.: Solar Analytica classification of the nominated score range. Points: Solar Analytica ranking points nominated per solar module property attributing toward an individual sub-category (excluding overall row). Overall (row): combined average of each Sub-Category.
2. DURABILITY: 77/100
Sub-Category | Characteristic | Reference | Class. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Positive loading | Test load – 5400 Pa, min10% coverage ratio, temp. 25 ±5°C, max humidity 75 %, ±5 % load uniformity, 3 cycles of 1 hr applied load. | IEC 61215-2 MQT16 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat2) | 70 |
Negative loading | Test load – 4000 Pa, min10% coverage ratio, temp. 25 ±5°C, max humidity 75 %, ±5 % load uniformity, 3 cycles of 1 hr applied load. | IEC 61215-2 MQT16 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Damp heat test | 2000 Hrs – Test Temp: (85 ± 2)°C, Relative humidity: (85 ± 5)%. | IEC 61215-2 MQT13 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat1) | 60 |
Thermal cycle test | 600 Cycles – Temp range: (-40 ± 2) to (+85 ± 2) °C. | IEC 61215-2 MQT11 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat3) | 80 |
Potential induced degredation | Resistant. | (IEC TS 62804) PID determined by MQT 13, MQT 15 & MQT 01 of IEC 61215-2 & Clause 5.5 Voltage stress test (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Salt mist resistance | Severity 6 – CX Offshore, ToW (N/A). | IEC 61701 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Amonia resistance | 1 cycle = test section 1 + test section 2 = 24 h, Total test duration = 20 cycles (480 h). | IEC 62716 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Sand and dust resistance | Not Listed. | IEC 60068-2-68 (reference documents). | Below Avg (Cat4) | 10 |
Hail impact resistance | Diameter: 35mm ±5%, Mass: 20.7 grams ±5%, Speed: 27.2m/sec ±2%. | IEC 61215-2 & 61646 (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat2) | 70 |
Durability Overall | Trina Vertex S plus | Above Avg (Cat3) | 77/100 | |
Sub-Category: Product asset which compiles the category. Characteristic: Scoring characteristic/gauge of the Sub-Category. Reference: Reference material from which the sub-category Characteristic has been derived. Class.: Solar Analytica classification of the nominated score range. Points: Solar Analytica ranking points nominated per solar module property attributing toward an individual sub-category (excluding overall row). Overall (row): combined average of each Sub-Category.
3. Efficiency: 80/100
Sub-Category | Characteristic | Reference | Class. | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Module efficiency (max) | 21.9% | Trina Vertex S plus datasheet section; Electrical Data (STC), Module Efficiency η m (%) (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat4) | 90 |
Temperature coefficient (Pmax) | -0.30%oC | Trina Vertex S plus datasheet section; Temperature Ratings, Temperature Coefficient of PMAX (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat4) | 90 |
Power tolerance (max) | 0~+5W | Trina Vertex S datasheet section; Electrical Data (STC), Power Tolerance-PMAX (W) (reference documents). | Average | 50 |
NOCT power density (max) | 166 W/m2 | Calculated, input source; Vertex S plus datasheet; Peak Power Watts-PMAX, NOCT, Temp Coefficient, Dimensions (LxW) (internal post). | Above Avg (Cat4) | 90 |
Efficiency Overall | Trina Vertex S plus | Above Avg (Cat3) | 80 | |
Sub-Category: Product asset which compiles the category. Characteristic: Scoring characteristic/gauge of the Sub-Category. Reference: Reference material from which the sub-category Characteristic has been derived. Class.: Solar Analytica classification of the nominated score range. Points: Solar Analytica ranking points nominated per solar module property attributing toward an individual sub-category (excluding overall row). Overall (row): combined average of each Sub-Category.
4. PERFORMANCE: 88/100
IMPORTANT: The Trina Vertex S plus performance guarantee should be interpreted in conjunction with the entire Global Limited Warranty For Trina Solar Brand Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic Modules, or that of which succeeds it. Listed below are the Solar Analytica data point indicators for ranking analysis only and are not a substitute for interpretation of the performance guarantee.
Sub-Category: Product asset which compiles the category. Characteristic: Scoring characteristic/gauge of the Sub-Category. Reference: Reference material from which the sub-category Characteristic has been derived. Class.: Solar Analytica classification of the nominated score range. Points: Solar Analytica ranking points nominated per solar module property attributing toward an individual sub-category (excluding overall row). Overall (row): combined average of each Sub-Category.
5. Guarantee: 86/100
IMPORTANT: The Trina Vertex S plus product guarantee should be interpreted in conjunction with the entire Global Limited Warranty For Trina Solar Brand Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic Modules, or that of which succeeds it. Listed below are the Solar Analytica data point indicators for ranking analysis only and are not a substitute for interpretation of the performance guarantee.
Sub-Category | Characteristic | Reference | Class. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Guarantee period
| 25-years | Limited Warranty For Trina Solar Brand Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic Modules, section; 3. Warranty, c) 25 Year Limited Product Warranty (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat3) | 80 |
Guarantee assurance | Parts, Service, Transport. | Global Limited Warranty For Trina Solar Brand Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic Modules, section; 6) Repair, Replacement or Refund Remedy (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Established | 1997 (25-years). | Wikipedia: Trina Solar (external). | Above Avg (Cat3) | 80 |
Certified installer network | Yes, without additional end-user/installer benefits benefits. | Authorised distributor and reseller network (reference documents). | Above Avg (Cat2) | 70 |
Manufacturer bankability | AA, PV Moduletech, Feb 2022. | Bankability ratings (internal). | Above Avg (Cat5) | 100 |
Guarantee Overall | Trina Vertex S | Above Avg (Cat4) | 86/100 | |
Sub-Category: Product asset which compiles the category. Characteristic: Scoring characteristic/gauge of the Sub-Category. Reference: Reference material from which the sub-category Characteristic has been derived. Class.: Solar Analytica classification of the nominated score range. Points: Solar Analytica ranking points nominated per solar module property attributing toward an individual sub-category (excluding overall row). Overall (row): combined average of each Sub-Category.
Overall: 85/100
If you’re investing by brand name alone, alternative Trina products require less capital expenditure on a cost per/Watt basis. Although, if you’re refining options as to which products a brand offers, the Vertex S Plus is designed to be the ultimate long-term performer by Trina. Complementing the intrinsic N-Type TOPCon advanced cell formation for high-performance electron flow is a move not yet seen by competing major brands. Glass-glass encapsulation for a monofacial module that has virtually no additional weight impact compared to similar-sized modules.
Viewed as the most stable encapsulation for solar cell technology, glass substrates don’t degrade like EVA/polymer substrates yet provide greater support for the fragile cells inside for the entire product life. A masterstroke of design, equal weight to size, is attributed to a 1.6mm front sheet (superstrate) and a 1.6mm backsheet (substrate) for a combined 3.2mm combined glass encapsulate, equalling the thickness of a standard solar module glass front sheet.
Through such design, the Vertex S plus encompasses Trina’s most resounding performance and product guarantee yet. As competition for a competitive edge continues globally, 25 and 30-year warranties are abundant, and many mean little. However, the Vertex S plus is a different breed where one would expect continuous yields to exceed warranted life purely by incorporating technology we know surpasses in real-world conditions.
Category | Classification | Points | Detail | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Design | Outstanding | Above Avg (Cat5) | 96 | Criteria > | |
Durability | Superior | Above Avg (Cat3) | 77 | Criteria > | |
Efficiency | Superior | Above Avg (Cat3) | 80 | Criteria > | |
Performance | Elite | Above Avg (Cat4) | 88 | Criteria > | |
Guarantee | Elite | Above Avg (Cat4) | 88 | Criteria > | |
Overall: Trina Vertex S plus | Above Avg (Cat3) | 85/100 | |||
Is there a sub-category value that requires an amendment? Submit an amendment request using this Amendment request form.
General product questions should be made using the comments section at the bottom of this post (keep scrolling).
The Trina Vertex S range of solar modules has been calculated using the Solar Analytica Assessment Criteria (solar modules) 2.1.1 >
- Trina Vertex S plus (NEG9.28) 400-425W datasheet.
- Limited Warranty For Trina Solar Brand Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic Modules warranty document.
- Trina Solar TÜV Rheinland dual glass certifications.
- Trina Solar TÜV Rheinland standard module certifications.
- Trina Vertex S plus user manual.
- Trina Vertex S plus installation manual.
- IEC 61215-2 External site >
- IEC 61701 External site >
- IEC 62716 External site >
- IEC TS 62804-1-1 External site >
- IEC 60068-2-68 External site >
How does the current range of Trina Solar panels compare against each other? Discover >
