Wedoany.com Report-Feb 28, Talon PV, a US-based producer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells, has obtained a license from First Solar for patents related to tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell manufacturing. The agreement’s financial details have not been disclosed. This license allows Talon PV to establish a US facility for N-type TOPCon cells, with production scheduled to start in the first quarter of 2026. The plant aims to contribute 4GW of annual solar cell production capacity in the US by the first quarter of 2027.
Talon PV’s facility will add 4GW of annual American crystalline silicon solar cell production capacity by the first quarter of 2027.
Adam Tesanovich, CEO of Talon PV, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with First Solar, America’s flagship solar technology company, to ensure that we can differentiate ourselves from other cell manufacturers not just by manufacturing in the US but also in offering our customers the peace of mind that comes with procuring cells that don’t infringe on other companies’ intellectual property. Securing this licence keeps us on track to produce American-made TOPCon cells next year, enabling the onshoring of a critical component of the crystalline silicon solar value chain.”
First Solar acquired the TOPCon patents, including those in the US and various international markets, through its 2013 purchase of TetraSun. The patent portfolio includes issued patents in countries such as Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea, remaining valid until 2030 and beyond. Pending patent applications are also active in several regions, including the European Union and Japan.
Jason Dymbort, First Solar’s executive vice-president general counsel and secretary, stated: “We are encouraged to find that manufacturers like Talon PV are committed to ensuring their freedom to manufacture by operating within the framework of the law and ensuring that their products don’t infringe on our patents. Our decision to license our intellectual property reflects our willingness to work with companies that respect the law.”
Separately, First Solar has initiated legal action against JinkoSolar, a Shanghai-based company, and its affiliates. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, claims infringement of First Solar’s US Patent No. 9,130,074, which pertains to methods of producing TOPCon crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells. Dymbort added: “We’ve been clear that we will actively defend our intellectual property rights in the US and internationally. Unfortunately, our interaction with JinkoSolar has been unproductive and left us with no choice but to enforce our patent rights through legal action. Given the responses we received from other solar cell manufacturers in connection with our infringement investigations, we believe we have a strong TOPCon technology patent portfolio. We expect that our lawsuit against JinkoSolar will reiterate the need for TOPCon solar cell manufacturers to operate within the well-defined framework of intellectual property law.”
First Solar disclosed its ownership of the TOPCon patent portfolio and began infringement investigations into multiple crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturers in July 2024.
