Back to supply chains
Where does Trina Solar source its components?
China. Supply chain mapped to 39 inputs across 6 countries.
Federal screeningFlagged
Yes. Trina Solar is named on the DOD Section 1260H list -- a federal restricted-party designation that makes it a foreign entity of concern for IRA clean-energy tax credit purposes. Is Trina Solar a Foreign Entity of Concern?
Upstream sourcing exposure
High87% weighted
1 federally designated - 30 in covered nations - 8 elevated, of 39 nodes.
Where inputs are mined and refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company -- see the federal list screening above.
Refining chokepoint
6 of 6 processing/refining steps in covered nations
Producer1
Supplier1
Component11
Processing / Refining6
Raw Material13
Mine / Extraction6
Logistics1
designated covered nation elevated no known factor not assessed
Loading chain view...
Sourcing Concentration by Country
Covered NationAllied NationOther
Sourcing risk across the graph
Where each input is mined or refined. Not a FEOC determination for the company.
1
Designated (3%)
29
Covered nation (74%)
8
Elevated (21%)
1
No known factor (3%)
Legend
Node Types
Producer
Supplier
Component
Processing / Refining
Raw Material
Mine / Extraction
Logistics
Sourcing risk
Federally designated - named on a restricted-party list
Covered nation - sited in China, Russia, Iran or North Korea
Elevated - documented concentration risk, no federal listing
No known risk factor - not a compliance clearance
Not assessed - no sourcing judgement was made
Relationships
Transformation - manufactures / assembles
Refining - midstream processing (FEOC chokepoint)
Supply handoff - supplies / sources from
Arrows point in the direction material flows (input to product).
Every mapped input in the Trina Solar supply chain
39 nodes, grouped by supply-chain tier. Sourcing risk describes where an input is mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for Trina Solar.
Producer (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trina SolarChangzhou, Jiangsu, China (HQ); 10GW n-type module plant | China | Federally designated | Named on DOD 1260Has “Trina Solar Co., Ltd.” (2026-06-10 Federal Register (Doc. 2026-11571)). Vertically integrated PV maker (silicon-to-module). Vertex N-type i-TOPCon modules. China-domiciled, flagged as FEOC under OBBBA. |
Supplier (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schottky Bypass DiodeChina / global semiconductor fabs | China | Covered nation | Low-forward-voltage Schottky diodes protect shaded strings. Semiconductor origin mixed (China/Taiwan/EU). |
Component (11)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| PV Module Assembly / LaminationThai Nguyen, Vietnam; Thailand; Changzhou China | Vietnam | Elevated sourcing risk | Final lamination + framing. US-bound modules assembled in Vietnam/Thailand, but China-linked BOM keeps FEOC exposure; assembly location alone does not clean the entity. |
| Solar Cell (N-type TOPCon)Vietnam (4GW cell) / China | Vietnam | Elevated sourcing risk | i-TOPCon tunnel-oxide passivated contact cell. Core value-add; China process IP and much of upstream feedstock keep it flagged. |
| Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer (210mm)Thai Nguyen, Vietnam 6.5GW wafer plant (ingot pulling, slicing) | Vietnam | Elevated sourcing risk | 210mm mono wafers. Vietnam wafering for US market; but wafer feedstock (polysilicon) predominantly China, so upstream flagged. |
| Silver Metallization PasteChangzhou / Wuxi, China (Fusion, Heraeus JV, DK) | China | Covered nation | Busbar/finger conductive paste. China makes ~92% of PV silver paste. |
| Ultra-clear Low-iron Tempered GlassChina (Xinyi Solar, Flat Glass Group, CNBM float furnaces) | China | Covered nation | Low-iron front cover glass. China dominates PV glass float capacity. |
| Anodized Aluminum FrameChina extruders (e.g. SinoExtrud-type) | China | Covered nation | 6xxx-series extruded, anodized module frame. China ~58-60% of world aluminium. |
| EVA / POE Encapsulant FilmChina (Hangzhou First, HIUV, Sveck, Cybrid) | China | Covered nation | Ethylene-vinyl-acetate / polyolefin elastomer laminating film. China dominates encapsulant supply. |
| Polymer BacksheetChina laminators (some India/US: Dunmore, Tomark Worthen) | China | Covered nation | Rear insulating laminate (fluoropolymer/PET). Most laminating capacity in China. |
| Junction Box (with bypass diodes)China J-box assemblers | China | Covered nation | PA66+glass-fiber housing, copper terminals, Schottky bypass diodes, silicone potting. Predominantly China-assembled. |
| Tinned Copper Ribbon / Tabbing WireChina (some US/EU: Ulbrich) | China | Covered nation | Interconnect ribbon soldering cells into strings. Much China-made; some allied supply. |
| PV DC Cable & MC4 ConnectorsChina / global connector makers | China | Covered nation | UV/flame-resistant DC cable + connectors. Copper conductor + XLPE insulation; mixed origin. |
Processing and refining (6)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polysilicon Purification (Siemens/FBR)Xinjiang & Inner Mongolia polysilicon plants (e.g. Tongwei/Daqo scale) | China | Covered nation | MGS chemically purified to 9N+ polysilicon. China dominates this refining step. |
| Silicon Arc-Furnace SmelterXinjiang / Yunnan, China | China | Covered nation | Submerged-arc furnaces reduce quartz with coal/charcoal to silicon metal. China-refined = flagged. |
| Silver RefineryChina precious-metal refineries | China | Covered nation | Electrolytic silver refining to 4N purity for paste. China-refined = flagged. |
| Aluminium SmelterChina (Shandong/Xinjiang/Yunnan) | China | Covered nation | Electrolytic reduction of alumina to aluminium metal. Energy-intensive; China-refined = flagged. |
| Alumina Refinery (Bayer process)Shandong / Shanxi, China | China | Covered nation | Bauxite digested to alumina. China-refined = flagged even on imported ore. |
| Copper Smelter / ElectrorefineryChina copper smelters | China | Covered nation | Concentrate smelted + electrorefined to Cu cathode. China-refined = flagged. |
Raw material (13)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar-grade PolysiliconXinjiang / Inner Mongolia / Qinghai, China | China | Covered nation | China makes ~77% of world polysilicon; Xinjiang ~45%. UFLPA/forced-labor exposure. Dominant midstream chokepoint. |
| Metallurgical-grade Silicon (MG-Si)Xinjiang / Yunnan / Sichuan, China | China | Covered nation | Quartzite + carbon reduced in arc furnace to ~98%+ Si. China makes ~70% of world MG-Si. |
| Quartzite / Silica (SiO2 ore)China (also Brazil, Norway, USA reserves) | China | Covered nation | High-purity quartzite feedstock for MG-Si. Reserves global but China-sourced feed is common; review where origin unclear. |
| Refined Silver (Ag)China refiners | China | Covered nation | ~70% of silver is byproduct of Cu/Pb/Zn mining. China dominates silver-paste refining/fabrication. |
| Ultra-low-iron Silica SandChina high-purity sand deposits | China | Covered nation | SiO2 99.5%+, Fe2O3 <0.012% for solar float glass. China-sourced feed for China glass = flagged downstream. |
| Primary Aluminium (Ingot/Billet)China aluminium smelters | China | Covered nation | Hall-Heroult smelting of alumina. China dominates primary Al output. |
| Alumina (Al2O3)China refineries (~54% of world alumina) | China | Covered nation | Bayer-process refining of bauxite to alumina. China dominant refining chokepoint. |
| Bauxite OreGuinea / Australia / Indonesia | Guinea | Elevated sourcing risk | Aluminium ore. Much of China's bauxite imported from Guinea/Australia; mine allied but China-refined flags midstream. |
| EVA / POE Polymer ResinChina / global petrochemical crackers | China | Covered nation | Ethylene-vinyl-acetate & polyolefin resin from petrochemical feedstock. Mixed origin; review. |
| Fluoropolymer / PET FilmChina / global film producers | China | Covered nation | PVDF/PVF + PET core film stock. Mixed-origin petrochemical film; review. |
| Flame-retardant Plastic Housing (PA66)China polymer compounders | China | Covered nation | PA66 + glass-fiber flame-retardant engineering plastic. Mixed-origin petrochemical. |
| Refined Copper (Cathode)China copper smelters/refineries | China | Covered nation | Electrolytic copper cathode for ribbon/terminals. China dominates copper smelting/refining. |
| Refined Tin (solder coating)China tin smelters (Yunnan Tin) | China | Covered nation | Tin coating / Sn-Pb solder on ribbon. China is a top tin smelter/refiner. |
Mine and extraction (6)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quartzite MineChinese quartz mines (Jiangsu/Xinjiang); global alt: Brazil, Norway, US | China | Covered nation | Extraction of low-iron quartzite. Mine geography varies; flagged if China-fed. |
| Silver / Base-metal Mine (Ag byproduct)Mexico / Peru / China Pb-Zn mines | Mexico | Elevated sourcing risk | Silver mostly co-mined with lead/zinc/copper. Mine origin allied (Mexico/Peru) but China refining flags downstream. |
| Silica Sand QuarryChinese silica sand quarries | China | Covered nation | Quarrying of ultra-low-iron quartz sand for glass melt. |
| Bauxite MineBoke, Guinea / Weipa, Australia | Guinea | Elevated sourcing risk | Open-pit bauxite extraction. Mine geography largely allied; FEOC risk enters at Chinese refining. |
| Copper MineChile / Peru / DRC copper mines | Chile | Elevated sourcing risk | Copper concentrate largely mined in Chile/Peru; allied ore but China refining flags downstream. |
| Tin Mine (cassiterite)Myanmar / China (Yunnan) cassiterite mines | Myanmar | Elevated sourcing risk | Cassiterite tin ore, much from Myanmar feeding China smelters. Conflict-mineral + China-refined exposure. |
Logistics (1)
| Input | Origin | Sourcing risk | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean Freight & Module LogisticsVietnam/Thailand ports to US/EU | Vietnam | No known risk factor | Container shipping of finished modules. Transport layer, not FEOC-material. |
Material flow (39 relationships)
- Trina Solar manufactures PV Module Assembly / Lamination (PV module)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles Solar Cell (N-type TOPCon) (Solar cell)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles Ultra-clear Low-iron Tempered Glass (Front glass)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles Anodized Aluminum Frame (Aluminum frame)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles EVA / POE Encapsulant Film (Encapsulant film)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles Polymer Backsheet (Backsheet)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles Junction Box (with bypass diodes) (Junction box)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles Tinned Copper Ribbon / Tabbing Wire (Interconnect ribbon)
- PV Module Assembly / Lamination assembles PV DC Cable & MC4 Connectors (DC cable / connectors)
- Solar Cell (N-type TOPCon) assembles Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer (210mm) (Silicon wafer)
- Solar Cell (N-type TOPCon) supplies Silver Metallization Paste (Silver paste metallization)
- Monocrystalline Silicon Wafer (210mm) supplies Solar-grade Polysilicon (Polysilicon feedstock)
- Solar-grade Polysilicon refines Polysilicon Purification (Siemens/FBR) (Polysilicon purification)
- Polysilicon Purification (Siemens/FBR) supplies Metallurgical-grade Silicon (MG-Si) (MG-silicon feedstock)
- Metallurgical-grade Silicon (MG-Si) refines Silicon Arc-Furnace Smelter (Silicon smelting)
- Silicon Arc-Furnace Smelter sources from Quartzite / Silica (SiO2 ore) (Quartzite ore)
- Quartzite / Silica (SiO2 ore) sources from Quartzite Mine (Quartzite extraction)
- Silver Metallization Paste supplies Refined Silver (Ag) (Refined silver)
- Refined Silver (Ag) refines Silver Refinery (Silver refining)
- Silver Refinery sources from Silver / Base-metal Mine (Ag byproduct) (Silver ore / doré)
- Ultra-clear Low-iron Tempered Glass supplies Ultra-low-iron Silica Sand (Silica sand)
- Ultra-low-iron Silica Sand sources from Silica Sand Quarry (Silica sand quarrying)
- Anodized Aluminum Frame supplies Primary Aluminium (Ingot/Billet) (Primary aluminium)
- Primary Aluminium (Ingot/Billet) refines Aluminium Smelter (Aluminium smelting)
- Aluminium Smelter sources from Alumina (Al2O3) (Alumina)
- Alumina (Al2O3) refines Alumina Refinery (Bayer process) (Bayer refining)
- Alumina Refinery (Bayer process) sources from Bauxite Ore (Bauxite ore)
- Bauxite Ore sources from Bauxite Mine (Bauxite extraction)
- EVA / POE Encapsulant Film supplies EVA / POE Polymer Resin (EVA/POE resin)
- Polymer Backsheet supplies Fluoropolymer / PET Film (Fluoropolymer/PET film)
- Junction Box (with bypass diodes) supplies Schottky Bypass Diode (Bypass diode)
- Junction Box (with bypass diodes) supplies Flame-retardant Plastic Housing (PA66) (PA66 housing)
- Junction Box (with bypass diodes) supplies Refined Copper (Cathode) (Copper terminals)
- Tinned Copper Ribbon / Tabbing Wire supplies Refined Copper (Cathode) (Refined copper)
- Tinned Copper Ribbon / Tabbing Wire supplies Refined Tin (solder coating) (Tin coating)
- Refined Copper (Cathode) refines Copper Smelter / Electrorefinery (Copper refining)
- Copper Smelter / Electrorefinery sources from Copper Mine (Copper concentrate)
- Refined Tin (solder coating) sources from Tin Mine (cassiterite) (Cassiterite ore)
- Trina Solar supplies Ocean Freight & Module Logistics (Module freight)
Sources and methodology
Research-based supply-chain map compiled from public sources - not an audited bill of materials. Tiers reflect the standard industry structure for this product. Sourcing risk on a node describes where that input is typically mined or refined; it is not a FEOC determination for Trina Solar, and it is not a screening result for the node itself unless a federal listing is cited against it. Verify against primary documentation before making a compliance determination.
Primary sources (1) - government, filings, standards bodies
Secondary sources (25) - trade press, analysts, reference works
- solarpowerworldonline.com solarpowerworldonline.com/2023/09/trina-solar-complies-with-uflpa-and-ad-cvd-for-all-us-solar-module-imports/
- pv-tech.org pv-tech.org/trina-tongwei-unveil-major-multi-billion-dollar-solar-silicon-wafer-and-cell-alliance/
- prnewswire.com prnewswire.com/news-releases/trina-solar-begins-producing-210mm-monocrystalline-wafers-in-vietnam-301909963.html
- pv-tech.org pv-tech.org/trina-solar-begins-wafer-production-at-6-5gw-vietnam-facility/
- trinasolar.com trinasolar.com/en-glb/resources/newsroom/mafirst-n-type-i-topcon-cells-roll-trina-solar%E2%80%99s-production-line-qinghai
- canarymedia.com canarymedia.com/articles/solar/china-owns-the-solar-supply-chain-jeopardizing-the-energy-transition
- thebreakthrough.org thebreakthrough.org/issues/energy/reforging-the-solar-photovoltaic-supply-chain
- evidencity.com evidencity.com/tracing-risk-in-silicon-supply-chains
- cen.acs.org cen.acs.org/energy/solar-power/US-solar-polysilicon-supply-problem/100/i33
- blog.ucs.org blog.ucs.org/charlie-hoffs/mining-raw-materials-for-solar-panels-problems-and-solutions/
- responsiblesourcingtool.org responsiblesourcingtool.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-Polysilicon-Commodity-Report-Final.pdf
- minespider.com minespider.com/blog/know-the-source-the-polysilicon-supply-chain
- gbidirect.com gbidirect.com/insights/china-solar-exports-silver-demand-2026/
- vblgoldfix.substack.com vblgoldfix.substack.com/p/exclusive-china-dominates-the-solar
- intelmarketresearch.com intelmarketresearch.com/pv-metallization-silver-paste-market-12218
- discoveryalert.com.au discoveryalert.com.au/solar-subsidies-aluminium-supply-chains-china-2026/
- smartenergy.org.au smartenergy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Aluminium-in-Solar-Panels-1.pdf
- rusi.org rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/commentary/aluminium-new-critical-mineral-frontier
- solarpowerworldonline.com solarpowerworldonline.com/2023/07/solar-subcomponent-market-picks-up-as-manufacturers-seek-domestic-materials/
- targray.com targray.com/solar/eva-sheets
- dunmore.com dunmore.com/products/solar-back-sheet.html
- xinyisolar.com xinyisolar.com/en/SolarPvGlass/index.aspx
- dataintelo.com dataintelo.com/report/ultra-low-iron-silica-sand-for-solar-glass-market
- tycorun.com tycorun.com/blogs/news/solar-junction-box
- st.com st.com/resource/en/application_note/an3432-how-to-choose-a-bypass-diode-for-silicon-panel-junction-box-stmicroelectronics.pdf
Common questions
- Where does Trina Solar source the inputs in this product?
- This map traces 39 inputs across 6 countries, including 12 mines and refiners. It is compiled from public sources and is not an audited bill of materials.
- How much of the Trina Solar supply chain sits in a covered nation?
- 30 of 39 mapped inputs are sited in a covered nation (China, Russia, Iran or North Korea) or named on a federal restricted-party list. A further 8 carry elevated sourcing risk without either basis.
- Is Trina Solar itself a Foreign Entity of Concern?
- Yes. Trina Solar is named on the DOD Section 1260H list -- a federal restricted-party designation that makes it a foreign entity of concern for IRA clean-energy tax credit purposes. Sourcing risk in this map describes where inputs are mined and refined and is a separate question from the company's own federal screening.