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Dr Leo ZHAO - VP, Head of Energy Storage, Trina Solar (APAC)
Inside Trina Storage’s Global Strategy & Innovations
In this exclusive conversation, Dr. Leo Zhao, Head of Trina Storage, unpacks the rapid evolution of utility-scale energy storage — from record-breaking container energy densities to India’s fast-shaping BESS market. With insights spanning technology, supply chains, pricing trends and Trina’s latest Elementa 3 platform, Dr. Zhao offers a clear view of where the sector stands today and what innovations will define storage by 2030.
1. How big is Trina's Storage division now, in terms of capacity, installed numbers, order book, and geographical reach?
Dr Leo ZHAO: Trina Storage has rapidly scaled its integrated storage portfolio, delivering 12 GWh to date and supporting a broader project reserve pipeline of roughly 70 GWh. Combining battery cells, DC modules and AC/DC system solutions, we now count 16 GWh of cumulative product deliveries and maintain a global presence across China, Europe and North America. Our 23 Global Service Centers and a dedicated team of over 230 professionals ensure local service, commissioning and lifecycle support for projects worldwide.
2. From 1 MWh in a 20-foot container to claims of 20 MWh in the same size in less than 5 years. What is driving this innovation in storage? Is it just a matter of more efficient cells or more?
Dr Leo ZHAO: The leap from 1 MWh to ~20 MWh in a 20 foot container reflects coordinated gains across cell chemistry, pack engineering and system integration rather than a single breakthrough: higher capacity LFP and other advanced cells, higher voltage architectures and improved chemistries raise intrinsic energy per cell; tighter pack layouts, integrated PCS/BMS designs and enhanced thermal management (including liquid cooling) increase usable capacity safely; and massive market-driven R&D and manufacturing scale have driven rapid cost declines and faster product iteration — together enabling far more energy in the same footprint.
3. How does Trina Storage look at the market in India? How is the firm approaching the market, considering your experience as a cell and module supplier earlier? New consumer segments to aim for?
Dr Leo ZHAO: Trina Storage views India as a priority growth market and is bringing integrated, cell‑to‑AC storage solutions designed to meet large commercial and utility needs while lowering project risk and total cost of ownership. Leveraging decades of PV and storage R&D, we offer high‑reliability, long‑life systems that pair advanced cells, system‑level engineering and intelligent controls to help customers meet their investment targets and accelerate deployment; initially, our go-to segments are utility and large C&I, with scope to expand into other verticals as market frameworks.
4. We have seen a trend of very low bid prices at storage tenders in India recently. Are falling prices a given in energy storage, or do you believe it is a time to be cautious about the future?
Dr Leo ZHAO: Falling bid prices in recent Indian tenders reflect a mix of structural and market forces, not a single cause. On the supply side, wider adoption of LFP and other higher‑density chemistries, scale‑up in cell manufacturing, and improvements in pack‑level engineering are all driving down capital costs. On the demand side, intensifying tender volumes and competitive procurement compress margins and accelerate cost declines through economies of scale.
5. We have seen China placing export controls on certain types of batteries and related technology recently/ Are those controls likely to impact the demand for storage batteries in India?
Dr Leo ZHAO: China’s recent export controls on selected battery materials and technologies introduce a new variable to global supply chains, but they are unlikely to abruptly choke demand for storage batteries in India. Lithium-ion will remain the dominant technology for most energy storage applications in the near term because of its proven performance, mature manufacturing base, and established project economics. That said, the controls increase the strategic value of supply chain diversification, localisation and complementary chemistries.
6. Considering the recent trend of protectionist policies across key markets, how are firms like Trina looking at managing such global volatility?
Dr Leo ZHAO: At Trinasolar we view regulatory volatility as a prompt to double down on innovation and customer value rather than a distraction. Our strategy is to invest in technology leadership, localize where needed, and deliver vertically integrated solutions that customers can deploy reliably across market conditions. Practically this means accelerating R&D (backed by thousands of patent applications and granted patents), designing modular products that are easy to localize and certify, and scaling platforms. For example, our Elementa 3 energy storage platform delivers over 6MWh capacity and integrates high-performance battery cells with up to 12,000 cycles, reducing the levelized cost of storage by 12.5% compared to previous generations. By combining global R&D with regional manufacturing and strong partner ecosystems, we keep customers insulated from policy swings through better-performing, lower‑risk products and faster time‑to‑market.
7. If you had to look ahead, what would be your prediction for the key innovations in energy storage by 2030?
Dr Leo ZHAO: By 2030 the storage industry will advance through a suite of coordinated improvements — diversified chemistries (including commercially mature sodium ion for cost sensitive stationary use), more cost competitive long duration options (flow and hybrid solutions), denser pack designs with safety first thermal controls, and powerful software layers for predictive BMS and large scale aggregation. For Trina Storage, the commercial imperative is clear: deliver platforms that combine those innovations into bankable products.
Elementa exemplifies that approach with its smart, intelligent design (cloud enabled dispatch and predictive maintenance), modular flexibility to serve behind the meter to utility scales, ultra high efficiency to maximise usable MWh per footprint, and comprehensive safety architecture across cell, pack and system levels. Looking ahead, market winners will be systems like Elementa that pair best fit chemistries with advanced controls, standardized lifecycle guarantees and circular supply practices — enabling safer, cheaper and more flexible grids while giving customers predictable performance and lower project risk.
8. Looking beyond large batteries, does Trina have offerings in the 5kW and below segment?
Dr Leo ZHAO: We do not offer residential or small commercial (5 kW+) battery products in the India market. Trina Storage’s current India focus is on large commercial and utility scale storage solutions tailored to grid and C&I applications.
9. Do you believe future solar installations will invariably have a storage component with them?
Dr Leo ZHAO: From a Trinasolar perspective, whether future solar installations include storage depends on customer needs and system context, but the industry trend is clear: PV+BESS is becoming the default for projects that require firming, resilience or revenue optimisation. Where grids are flexible and evening demand is low, standalone PV still makes sense; however, falling battery costs and the value of time shift, peak shaving, curtailment avoidance and ancillary services mean that many new C&I, utility scale hybrid and resilience focused deployments will be specified as integrated PV+BESS from day one. Globally Trina addresses this through an end to end approach — pairing our high efficiency PV modules with Elementa storage platforms, cloud enabled EMS and VPP capabilities — so customers get a single, bankable solution that optimises yield, and lowers project risk.
10. Do share the differences in Elementa 3 versus previous versions of the storage solution.
Dr Leo ZHAO: Elementa 3 is Trina Storage’s latest-generation utility-scale battery energy storage system. Built on advanced 587Ah liquid-cooled cells, the 6.25MWh system reduces the Levelised Cost of Storage (LCOS) by 12.5% compared to its predecessor, while boosting energy density, efficiency, and safety, while delivering step‑change O&M benefits through features such as one‑click site upgrades and real‑time monitoring that streamline servicing. Its modular, transport‑optimised design shortens delivery cycles and reduces logistics risk, and the platform has been validated in extreme environments from plateaus and deserts to tropical islands and humid rainforests.