JinkoSolar has filed an infringement against Waaree Energies and its U.S. based subsidiary, Waaree Solar Americas, alleging infringement of its n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) patent number, US11,824,136B2 granted in 2023. It is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas on February 7, 2025.
The above said patent is granted to JinkoSolar in 2023, pertains to solar cells, their manufacturing methods, and photovoltaic modules. JinkoSolar has also patented this technology in key global markets, including China, Japan, Australia, and the European Union.
Now a days, this legal action is part of a broader trend in the solar industry, where major manufacturers are actively defending their intellectual property rights related to advanced technologies like TOPCon. For example, Trina Solar has recently filed a lawsuit against Canadian Solar over alleged patent infringements concerning TOPCon cell technologies.
Waaree Energies, is India’s largest solar PV module manufacturer. It is the flagship company of the Waaree Group, founded in 1989. It operates four PV manufacturing facilities in Gujarat, India, with a combined capacity of almost 12 GW. In December 2024, Waaree Solar Americas began producing solar modules at its new 1.6 GW plant in Brookshire, Texas
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the solar industry, particularly concerning the protection and commercialization of IP rights related to advanced photovoltaic technologies.