Trina Solar. a global leader in solar panel manufacturing, hosted a preview event recently for its new $200 million, 1.35-million square foot solar photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Wilmer, southeast of Dallas. Local and state officials, community members, and partners were on hand to tour the facility and hear from Trina’s team.

Based in Changzhou, China, with U.S. headquarters in Silicon Valley, Trina Solar says the new Wilmer facility will provide 1,500 local jobs, produce 5 GW of modules, and source polysilicon from the U.S. and Europe. Trina says it’s investing $200 million in “property and equipment” for the project.

The plant’s buildout is expected to be completed in 2024. When it’s operational, it will produce large-power-output Vertex modules using the 210mm large size wafer and “manufacturing techniques and technologies pulled from over 26 years of experience.” (The company was founded in 1997.)

The December 1 event at the Wilmer plant was attended by over 160 guests, Trina said, including State Rep. Carl Sherman, D-DeSoto; John Wiley Price, Dallas County Commissioner; Wilmer Mayor Sheila Petta; Dr. Joseph Seabrooks, President of Dallas College; Steve Modory, Co-Managing Partner of Champion Partners.

Positioning Texas as ‘a leader in the transition to a sustainable future’

Steven Zhu, president of Trina Solar U.S. [Photo: Trina Solar]

Steven Zhu, president of Trina Solar U.S., was on hand for the preview of the North Texas plant.

“We were thrilled to bring together this group of leaders and community members to celebrate our commitment to the city of Wilmer and the clean energy industry,” Zhu said in a statement. “This facility represents a significant investment in American manufacturing that will bolster the U.S. solar market in addition to positioning Texas as a leader in the transition to a sustainable future. We’re grateful to the city of Wilmer and look forward to the many accomplishments our partnership will bring.”

In September, Zhu said his company has “long had a vision to manufacture solar products in the United States, and we’re proud of the jobs we’re creating and the investment we’re making in the Wilmer community. Trina’s goal in building this facility is to begin to create an ecosystem of American manufacturing that can serve the burgeoning U.S. solar market.”

Wilma Mayor Sheila Petta said Trina’s preview event “exemplified the power of partnership and how much stronger this region is with collaboration of unity.”

Steve Modory is co-managing partner of Champion Partners, which developed Tradepoint 45 West, the huge industrial facility occupied by Trina Solar.  

“While it feels great to build such a unique and large project, it only truly can be considered a success if you can find a company to occupy it—a company like Trina Solar that will make a significant capital investment, that will create thousands of jobs, and that will generate significant tax revenue here locally in Wilmer and Dallas County,” Modory said in a statement.

Following the event, Trina officials attended the city of Wilmer’s annual holiday tree lighting ceremony and participated in Wilmer’s Initiative to Spread Hope (WISH) holiday program, aimed at supporting families during the Christmas season.  Trina “adopted” 20 Wilmer Stars at the event, impacting 20 area children.

Delivering clean energy to ‘more than 160 countries and regions’

Trina Solar’s global business footprint has delivered clean energy to more than 160 countries and regions. With its mission of “Solar energy for all,” Trina Solar is committed to working with others to create a net-zero future. To date, the company says it has shipped more than 170GW of modules, with shipments of 210mm modules surpassing 90 GW.

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