REC Files Lawsuit Against Hanwha Q Cells In The US

REC Group, the Norway headquartered Solar manufacturer with its manufacturing in Singapore, has filed a patent Infringement Lawsuit against Hanwha Q Cells in an American District Court on 30th November 2020.

Hanwha Q Cells itself, headquartered in South Korea, is no stranger to patent related lawsuits, having filed one in March 2019 relating to its solar cell passivation technology against Jinko Solar, Longi Solar, and REC Group. Q Cells claimed that the companies were unlawfully importing and selling solar products infringing on its associated patents. REC Group had won that suit.

But this time, REC Group has returned fire by filing a patent infringement lawsuit. The patent-in-suit was granted in the United States in August 2020 and relates to REC Group’s award-winning split cell (half-cut) and junction box technology. In its suit, the REC Group says it developed the technology in-house and has manufactured products incorporating this technology for more than half a decade in REC Group’s state-of-the-art production site in Singapore. REC Group’s patented solar cell assembly technology addresses the decreased overall current in solar modules caused by partial shading resulting in increased module power output and module efficiency.

“REC Group’s R&D resources, time, and investments have significantly contributed to a new set of industry standards,” says Dr. Shankar G. Sridhara, Chief Technology Officer of REC Group. “REC Group filed this action to protect its intellectual property, investments, and reputation, as well as to encourage more innovation in the industry. The more solar companies invest in developing groundbreaking innovation, the more improvement we will see inefficiencies and costs per kWh and achieving full access to renewable energy generation and consumption for communities. As a global, pioneering solar energy company, we champion intellectual property rights and fair competition. This also means that we will rigorously defend our rights when they are being violated.”

REC Group, with an annual solar capacity of 1.8 GW, has over 10 GW installed worldwide. With a special focus on the C&I segment.

Hanwha Q Cells has successfully mass-produced more than 2 billion of its Q.ANTUM solar cells, equivalent to more than 10 GW since 2012. It has manufacturing sites in 4 countries and sales offices in 40+ countries.

The upshot of this Patent Battle will be much solicitude.