TCL Solar joins MESIA to accelerate localisation and innovation in MENA solar sector

TCL Solar’s recent membership in the Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA) is quite an important development, really. It highlights the company’s efforts to strengthen its footprint across the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, which is rapidly ramping up solar projects to hit their decarbonisation goals. As EnergyTrend reports, TCL Solar, a subsidiary of TCL Zhonghuan, officially joined MESIA to get involved in policy discussions, help set industry standards, and collaborate across sectors that the association sort of brings together.

MESIA’s list of members is pretty diverse, government bodies, power utilities, project developers, financiers, and tech providers all make an appearance. The association has become a key player in shaping the regulatory environment and coordinating industry efforts needed for large-scale solar development across the Gulf and nearby markets. By becoming a member, TCL Solar now has access to forums where technical challenges, grid integration, and financing hurdles are tackled, and where industry norms concerning performance and reliability are debated.

TCL Solar frames this move as part of a broader localization strategy tailored to the climate in the region. According to EnergyTrend, the company plans to leverage MESIA’s network for technical exchanges with local partners, and to develop customized modules and services that can stand up to high temperatures, strong radiation, and desert conditions. The idea that localized product design and after-sales support will enhance project performance certainly lines up with industry insights, particularly those emphasizing that choosing the right modules for specific sites and ensuring thermal resilience are crucial for long-term success in hot, arid environments.

This MESIA membership comes at a time when TCL Group’s overall solar ambitions are expanding. Back in March 2025, TCL Technology Group announced the launch of TCL SunPower Global, a new energy division aimed at combining advanced module technologies with TCL’s manufacturing capacity, PV Tech reports. This new unit follows TCL’s acquisition of a majority stake in Singapore’s Maxeon, and its goal is to tap into advanced cell tech like interdigitated back-contact (IBC) cells and other high-performance options. The emergence of TCL SunPower signals a sort of vertical integration, pairing product innovation with international outreach, which could complement TCL Solar’s focus in MENA’s local markets.

And, you know, TCL’s regional activities aren’t just limited to association memberships. The company has already signed multiple distribution and partnership agreements in South Asia, which look like a blueprint it might try to replicate in MENA. PR Newswire detailed some of these strategic deals in Pakistan, where TCL Solar committed to supplying 250 MW worth of products in 2025 to companies like AU Solar and Madina Solar, along with separate agreements with Integra Solar Pakistan for about 100 MW of PV systems. These deals highlight a comprehensive approach, covering supply logistics, local service networks, and after-sales, that MESIA membership could help extend into Gulf markets with utilities and developers alike.

On the industrial front, TCL Zhonghuan and its related companies have pushed for manufacturing localization in the region. PV Tech reports that a consortium led by Lumetech, a TCL Zhonghuan subsidiary, signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Vision Industries to establish a massive ingot and wafer factory with a capacity of 20 GW annually. The goal is to support regional supply chains and align with Saudi Arabia’s broader energy transition and localization strategies. Setting up local manufacturing could cut dependence on imported parts and make projects more economical for large-scale utility deployments across the Gulf.

Sustainability and governance are also increasingly part of TCL’s approach. TCL SunPower Global recently joined the Solar Stewardship Initiative, a move meant to boost transparency and traceability in their supply chain, with assessments due within a year, the company announced. This step aims to soothe concerns from investors and project owners about environmental and social governance (ESG), especially since lenders and sovereign-backed off-takers in the MENA region are now placing more importance on ESG standards when selecting partners.

Now, of course, industry watchers do advise some caution. Being part of trade associations and announcing joint ventures are fairly early steps, market entry and expansion in the Gulf and North Africa are complicated, with tricky permitting processes, grid connection issues, and land use challenges. For utility-scale projects, reaching financial close often requires proven local presence, solid operational plans, and credible warranties, areas where TCL’s distribution agreements and planned manufacturing facilities could give them an edge, but only if executed well on a large scale.

For stakeholders in the UAE focused on clean technology, TCL Solar’s membership in MESIA definitely signals an ambition to align with regional policies and industrial priorities. Their initiatives, like advanced modules through TCL SunPower Global, regional supply deals, and industrial projects in Saudi, show a strategy that combines product innovation, localization, and ESG commitments. According to EnergyTrend and other industry sources, the Middle East’s push toward solar creates real opportunities for integrated suppliers. Growing success, however, will depend on their ability to deliver products that are resilient in the climate, provide reliable local support, and meet the governance standards demanded by regional investors and utilities.

Source: Noah Wire Services