Verbund Locks 700-MW Trina Solar Panels for Southern Europe Projects

• Austrian utility Verbund signs five-year framework with Trina Solar for 700-plus MW of high-efficiency modules to accelerate solar roll-outs in Spain and Italy.

Austrian power producer Verbund Green Power has secured more than 700 MW of photovoltaic modules from China’s Trina Solar Co Ltd under a five-year framework agreement that shores up its supply chain just as a new wave of solar projects heads for construction in Spain and Italy.

Signed this week, the deal gives Verbund priority access to Trina’s latest high-performance panels, known for strong output and durability in hot, Mediterranean climates. The long-term purchase arrangement comes at a critical moment: Verbund’s 2030 strategy calls for at least 25 percent of the group’s electricity to come from solar and onshore wind, a steep climb from today’s hydro-dominated mix.

“Locking in module volumes at this scale lets us move from permits to groundbreaking without worrying about global supply bottlenecks,” a Verbund spokesperson said. “It also secures pricing visibility when equipment costs are still volatile.”

For Trina Solar, the accord deepens its foothold in one of Europe’s fastest-growing clean-energy corridors. Steven Xu, the manufacturer’s head of utility sales for Europe, called the agreement “a vote of confidence in our technology and local service operations.” Trina’s portfolio now ranges from large-format Vertex modules to its N-type TOPCon series, giving Verbund flexibility to match panel choices with site-specific conditions across both countries.

Verbund Green Power already operates 1.1 GW of renewables—mostly hydro—spread across Austria, Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania and Albania. By blending new solar capacity with its storied hydro assets, the company aims to provide firmer, more predictable output as European grids integrate ever-higher shares of variable generation.

Industry analysts say framework deals like this one are becoming standard among large developers seeking to insulate projects from price swings and shipping delays. “A guaranteed hardware stream over multiple years is now as valuable as the modules themselves,” notes Johannes Maurer, a Vienna-based energy consultant. “It helps de-risk schedules and financing, especially for portfolios spread across borders.”

With design work finished on several Spanish and Italian sites, Verbund expects to begin breaking ground later this year. The first shipments from Trina’s Chinese factories are slated for early 2026, keeping the utility on track to meet its interim renewable-capacity milestones well ahead of 2030.