JinkoSolar responds to Hanwha Q CELLS’ passivation patent infringement claim

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
JinkoSolar said that its preliminary analysis of the alleged infringement of US patents were “without technical or legal merit. JinkoSolar, therefore, categorically refutes Hanwha's allegations.” The company added that it was considering a legal petition to seek making the patents invalid. Image: Hanwha Q CELLS

Leading ‘Solar Module Super League’ (SMSL) member JinkoSolar has been the first to respond to Hanwha Q CELLS patent legal action filed in the US and Germany, specifically against JinkoSolar, LONGi Solar and REC Group.

JinkoSolar said that its preliminary analysis of the alleged infringement of US patents were “without technical or legal merit. JinkoSolar, therefore, categorically refutes Hanwha's allegations.”
The company added that it was considering a legal petition to make the patents invalid.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

A key patent in the case is US 9,893,215 B2, which was issued to Hanwha Q CELLS and SolarWorld Industries in February 2018, although the original [215] patent stems from 2010.

The [215] patent relates to solar cell surface passivation widely used in PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell) technology as well as bifacial cells.

Specifically, the patent describes a solar cell structure, which incoprates the processes used in depositing both a thin layer of aluminium oxide and a second dielectric layer (other materials are also described) that can contain hydrogen via atomic layer deposition (ALD) and followed by a thicker layer of silicon oxide, which is deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD). 

The process reduces recombination of charge carriers in the cell, boosting conversion efficiency, due to better surface passivation when ALD and PECVD are used, rather than one or the other deposition process. However, Hanwha Q CELLS is focusing its infringement cases on the cell structure in relation to nanometre thickness of the passivation layers within the [215] patent.

Hanwha Q CELLS is also seeking an order to stop JinkoSolar, LONGi Solar and REC Group from importing, marketing, and selling the infringing products in Germany and the US.
 
Responses from LONGi Solar and REC Group are expected shortly.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

July 18, 2025
Companies have signed 4.22GW of solar PV power purchase agreements in the first half of 2025, according to Swiss consultancy Pexapark.
July 17, 2025
Germany’s latest rooftop solar PV and noise barrier auction ended up undersubscribed and awarded only 255MW.
July 15, 2025
Greater policy clarity will be needed if Germany is realise its FPV potential, according to a report from Fraunhofer ISE.
July 14, 2025
For the first time ever, solar PV was the biggest source of electricity in June 2025, according to data from energy think tank Ember.
Premium
July 11, 2025
Analysis: A presidential executive order issued on Monday tightening up project start rules is causing concern among developers.
July 8, 2025
The Chinese government has moved to curb excessive competition in the PV sector and stabilise pricing as companies report growing losses.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 22, 2025
Bilbao, Spain
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK