First Solar Secures US TOPCon Patent

First Solar, a solar module manufacturer based in the U.S., has successfully secured a U.S. patent for its solar cell production technology, opening the door to potential patent infringement investigations.

The company revealed today that it has obtained a patent for TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) cells, which use crystalline silicon (c-Si) photovoltaic (PV) technology. This comes after its acquisition of TetraSun in 2013.

With this new patent, First Solar has initiated investigations into potential patent infringements by c-Si PV manufacturers in the U.S., Mexico, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, and Australia. This probe also includes pending patent applications in the EU and Japan.

First Solar is renowned for producing thin-film cadmium telluride (CdTe) based solar modules, which are vital for advancing solar energy technology and facilitating the broader energy transition.