Are Trina solar panels any good? Find out by reading a Trina solar panels review. Below, we'll cover what you should know about this popular solar panel brand. Join us in our Trina solar review as we place their popular residential products under the microscope and evaluate their panel's efficiency, performance, durability, warranties, and cost. 

A History of the Trina Brand

You probably know Trina manufactures solar panels. But you may not know they were founded in 1997 and have since either set or broken 25 records concerning photovoltaic (PV) cell efficiency and module power. They also received the Highest Achiever Award for the fourth time from the RETC 2023 PV Module Index Report. 

Pretty impressive, right?

Trina is largely known as a manufacturer of higher-quality panels that aren't ridiculously priced. They also make good use of cutting-edge technology to increase their panels' efficiency, durability, and performance. 

Where are Trina solar panels made? Trina panels are manufactured in China, where the company is headquartered. However, the company operates in over 100 countries worldwide, making them a respected and competitive name among solar panel manufacturers.

What Are Trina's Most Popular Solar Panel Lines?

Most solar panel companies offer a few lines of panels catering to different markets. Trina is no different. The following Trina solar panels reviews will analyze the brand's three residential lines. 

Below are some top-line specs to understand what each line offers. Each of these panels is made with split cell technology and nondestructive cutting, which increases efficiency by up to 2% while allowing the panels to be smaller. 

Vertex S Line

• Panel Type: 120 Half-Cut Cell Monocrystalline
• Power Output Range: 380-400 watts
• Positive Power Tolerance: 0~+5W

DD06M.05(II)

• Panel Type: 120 Half-Cut Cell Monocrystalline
• Power Output Range: 310-335 watts
• Positive Power Tolerance: 0~+5W

DE06X.05(II)

• Panel Type: 132 Half-Cut Cell Monocrystalline
• Power Output Range: 355-380 watts
• Positive Power Tolerance: 0/+5

Trina Solar Panels Review: What's the Market Context?

Now to the good stuff. 

The Trina solar panels review below evaluates four key elements for judging a panel's quality. These four factors are efficiency, performance, warranty, and cost. Remember that cost is something that comes after considering the first three factors. But we get it. Solar panels are no small purchase, and that cost is always a massive concern when buying a solar energy system. 

All right. Let's roll out the Trina solar panels review and see how the panel stack up against the broader market. 

Efficiency

The maximum efficiencies of Trina's three residential lines are: 

• Vertex S: 22%
• DD06M.05(II): 19.9%
• DE06X.05(II): 20.6%

To put this into market content, panel efficiency ranges from 15% to 23%. A 20% or higher panel is considered high efficiency, and efficiency is the percentage of sunlight a panel converts into usable electricity. 

Two of Trina's panels are high efficiency, with the third falling only slightly short. Also, it's important to note that the Vertex S Line offers multiple models that range from 20.6% to 22%. Overall, Trina panels offer good efficiency rates, just slightly below those of the most premium brands. 

Performance

Trina solar panels record the following temperature coefficients: 

• Vertex S: -.34%
• DD06M.05(II): -.36%
• DE06X.05(II): -.34%

A temperature coefficient measures how much a panel's performance drops as temperatures rise. The standard operating temperature is 25 degrees Celsius (or 77 Fahrenheit). Whenever temperatures rise by one degree, solar panels drop in performance, anywhere from .2% to .5%. 

Trina's panel's temperature coefficients all show they are high performing, aligning with higher-end panels' average temperature coefficients. Again, the most premium panels offer slightly better performance. But, overall, Trina's panels hold up well as temperature increases. 

Warranty

The warranty is one of the most important elements of solar panel purchases. You wouldn't want to buy anything from a company that fails to back up its claims, right? 

There are two warranties to look out for with any solar panel: product warranty and performance warranty.

Product Warranty

When it comes to product warranties, Trina doesn't mess around. Each residential panel has a 25-year product warranty, guaranteeing that the company will replace the panel if any manufactural defects or environmental damages occur. The industry standard for product warranties ranges from 12 years to 30 years, meaning that Trina is on the higher end. 

Additionally, Trina offers a no-strings-attached policy, meaning that using a non-Trina installation company won't void the warranty agreement. Many higher-end panels have requirements concerning installation, making this a big plus for Trina. 

Performance Warranty

The performance warranty guarantees the panel will deliver electrical output over a given amount of time. It's measured by degradation, in other words, how much the panel's electrical output decreases yearly. 

Trina's three performance warranties are as follows: 

• Vertex S: Average power decline of .52% per year from the second year to the 25th year
• DD06M.05(II): Average power decline of .6% per year from the second year to the 25th year
• DE06X.05(II): Average power decline of .55% per year from the second year to the 25th year

Trina's performance warranties fall within the market average's low side, ranging from 5% to .8% per year. The best models boast yearly degradation of as low as .3%. 

Durability and Safety

Trina panels are some of the most rigorously tested solar panels on the market. They all come with a comprehensive spate of certifications from trusted third-party agencies, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission, that test for factors such as the ability to withstand pressure from snow, wind, and salt mist and shock protection safety.

When it comes to measuring mechanical performance, each panel reports the following Pascal (Pa) numbers, which measure how much force the panel can withstand:

• Vertex S: 6000 Pa+ / 4000 Pa-
• DD06M.05(II): 5400 Pa+ / 2400 Pa-
• DE06X.05(II): 5400 Pa+ / 2400 Pa-

A 5400 Pa+ / 2400 Pa- measurement is the industry standard. A positive 5400 Pa indicates the panel can handle 113 pounds of snow or ice per square foot. On the other hand, a negative 2400 Pa indicates the panel can withstand winds of up to 141 mph. As you can see from the numbers, Trina's Vertex S line is a highly durable panel and performs well above industry averages. 

Cost

Finally, we come to cost, which is difficult to calculate because the price depends on many factors, such as location. The average cost per watt is $3.00-$5.00. Trina panels range between $2.30 and $3.20 per watt. So overall, if you install the standard 6 kWh home solar system setup, you can expect Trina panels to cost you between $13,800 and $19,200. 

Trina Solar Reviews: What Consumers Say

So far, we've done a technical analysis of Trina's panels according to market averages. In the real world, there's much more at play. For this, it's important to glean insights from actual users. Here are a few Trina solar panel reviews from actual users. 

Positive Reviews

After sifting through reviews, we found a largely positive response to Trina's panels.