Trina Solar has announced that its Trinasmart voltage optimisation product has won the 2013 Solar Industry Award in the System Integration category. This follows success for Trina Solar Chairman and CEO Jifan Gao in the Solar Award for Excellence (Individual) category in 2012.

The Solar Industry Awards, managed by publishing house Angel Business Communications, which produces the prominent PV trade magazine and website Solar International, recognise the whole PV value chain and the people, products, and services, that demonstrate innovation and technological excellence.

Speaking about the success of Trinasmart in the System Integration category, David Ridsdale, editor-in-chief of Solar International, said: "Trina Solar's ability to incorporate a range of technologies and options from its own portfolio, as well as that of its partners, sees an impressive module that improve overall output as well as ease of installation - allowing solar to be introduced to areas that previously would not have been considered."

Trinasmart is a performance optimiser integrated into Trina Solar's monocrystalline Honey M module range. It enables the monitoring and control of arrays at a modular level and increases system performance by up to 20 per cent.

Users have real-time access to all module data through their smartphone or laptop, with the ability to switch off the entire array with a single click in case of emergency. Trinasmart works with all kinds of inverter, does not require extra wiring, and makes it possible to run up to 30 per cent longer module strings.

Trinasmart also improves the safety of the PV system: in cases of electrical failure (e.g. flashing arc), Trinasmart shuts down the affected modules automatically.

Moreover, in the case of an external fire the modules can be totally deactivated, eliminating high voltages and improving the safety of firefighters during an emergency. Trinasmart increases building security and complies with current and future European regulations demanding low voltage shut-off capabilities. Trinasmart uses technology from Silicon Valley company Tigo Energy

"We are obviously very happy to have won this award, particular as the winners are determined by the votes of our peers within the PV community. Following on from last year's individual award made to our Chairman and CEO Jifan Gao, this award is recognition not only of the technological innovation and excellence of Trinasmart, but also of the high esteem in which Trina Solar and its products and expertise are held within the industry," said Ben Hill, Trina Solar's Head of Europe.

Trina Solar was presented with its award at a ceremony at the Hotel Novotel Convention and Wellness Roissy CDG, Paris, during PVSEC Europe on Tuesday 1 October. Dr Pierre Verlinden, Head of R and D, attended to accept the award.