US-based manufacturer of crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells, Talon PV, has secured a licence for tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cell manufacturing patents from First Solar.
The terms of the agreement remain undisclosed.
The agreement enables Talon to set up a manufacturing facility for N-type TOPCon cells in the US, with operations to begin in the first quarter of 2026.
The facility will add 4GW of annual American crystalline silicon solar cell production capacity by the first quarter of 2027.
Talon PV CEO Adam Tesanovich stated: “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 obtained the US TOPCon patents and related international counterparts through its 2013 acquisition of TetraSun.
The patents cover issued patents in Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, the US and Vietnam, with validities extending to 2030 and beyond.
The portfolio also includes pending patent applications in the European Union, Japan, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
First Solar executive vice-president general counsel and secretary Jason Dymbort 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.”
First Solar has also announced the filing of a lawsuit against Shanghai-headquartered JinkoSolar and its related entities.
The lawsuit alleges infringement of First Solar’s US Patent No. 9,130,074, which covers methods of manufacturing tunnel oxide passivated contact crystalline silicon photovoltaic solar cells.
The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
Dymbort stated: “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.”
In July 2024, First Solar announced its ownership of the TOPCon technology patent portfolio and the launch of infringement investigations against several crystalline silicon solar cell manufacturers.
