News: Photovoltaics
19 July 2024
First Solar announces ownership of TOPCon technology patents
Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA has announced its ownership of patents related to the manufacturing of Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) crystalline-silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic solar cells.
First Solar secured the US patent and related international counterparts through its acquisition in 2013 of TetraSun Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (which had pioneered proprietary cell architecture and manufacturing processes for large-format crystalline silicon wafers) and the firm’s intellectual property portfolio. First Solar has now initiated an investigation of several c-Si solar manufacturers for potential infringement of its patents. The patents include issued patents in the USA, Canada, Mexico, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and Australia, among other jurisdictions, with validities extending to 2030. It also includes pending patent applications in the European Union and Japan. First Solar says that it firmly believes in the value and strength of the patents and that it plans to conduct a thorough investigation of potentially infringing products.
“These patents are First Solar’s intellectual property, which we continue to leverage as part of ongoing efforts to develop the next generation of PV technologies,” says Jason Dymbort, First Solar’s executive VP, general counsel & secretary. “While First Solar is a world leader in the development and commercialization of advanced thin-film photovoltaics, our R&D and intellectual property portfolio spans several semiconductor platforms, including crystalline silicon, as we pursue multiple pathways towards our goal of developing the next transformative, disruptive solar technology,” he adds.
“We are investigating several leading crystalline silicon solar manufacturers for potential infringement of our patents. If infringement is discovered, we intend to challenge the ability of potential infringers to legally manufacture, assemble and sell infringing TOPCon technology by pursuing enforcement, licensing, and/or other measures to safeguard our rights.”
CdTe PV maker First Solar acquiring silicon PV firm TetraSun to expand addressable market
