Qcells issues patent infringement notices over solar cell manufacturing technology

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
According to Qcells, notice letters recipients are infringing on its laser-enhanced contact optimisation (LECO) technology. Image: QCells.

Korean-owned solar manufacturer Hanwha Qcells has issued patent infringement notice letters to several manufacturers over its solar cell manufacturing technology.

According to Qcells, the recipient companies are allegedly producing and selling products using laser-enhanced contact optimization (LECO) technology, for which it holds the patent.

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

The LECO technology enhances the efficiency and reliability of solar cells, including passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) and tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) products, by applying laser scanning. Qcells commercialised the technology in collaboration with German solar equipment manufacturer Cell Engineering since 2018, before Qcells acquired the company and the patent in 2023.

Danielle Merfeld, Global CTO at Qcells, said: “Qcells does not tolerate any unlawful usage of the LECO technology, and is fully committed to defending its intellectual property rights to ensure that the solar industry can continue to pursue its research and development activities with confidence.”

In its notice letters to competing solar manufacturers, Qcells has requested them to discontinue the manufacture, use, offer to sell, sale and marketing of, or import of the products using the LECO technology that would violate the company’s patents.

The company said it will continue its investigation to identify other manufacturers infringing on the patent and issue additional notice letters.

Rise of TOPCon technology litigations

This is the latest development in a series of patent infringements cases that gained prominence in 2024. Qcells was itself the recipient of a patent infringement lawsuit from solar manufacturer Maxeon over alleged TOPCon solar cell technology.

Other companies who filed patent infringement lawsuits are Chinese manufacturers JinkoSolar, Trinasolar and JA Solar, the first two in the US while the latter in Europe. In all three cases, the alleged patent infringements concerned TOPCon technology.

PV Tech Premium recently looked at the surge of litigations in these past few months, which was primarily driven by the maturity of TOPCon technology.

11 March 2025
Frankfurt, Germany
The conference will 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 out to 2030 and beyond.
17 June 2025
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 17-18 June 2025, will be our fourth 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 2026 and beyond.
25 November 2025
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2026. PV ModuleTech Europe 2025 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.

Read Next

February 13, 2025
Chinese solar manufacturers LONGi and Jinko Solar, along with Indian PV manufacturer Waaree Energies, have been named in a series of patent disputes filed in China and the US.
February 10, 2025
Factors including import duties and changing tax rates in China have driven up US module prices, according to CEA's latest pricing report.
February 10, 2025
Chinese module manufacturer JinkoSolar is suing rival producer Longi in Australia for alleged infringement of technology patents.
February 7, 2025
TP Solar, a subsidiary of Tata Power, has commissioned a 4.3GW cell and module manufacturing facility in the state of Tamil Nadu.
January 31, 2025
JA Solar has unveiled its DeepBlue 5.0 series of modules, its latest n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) product.
January 27, 2025
Scientists in Australia have reported positive results from using copper plating to protect TOPCon PV cells against contaminant-induced degradation.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 17, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
February 19, 2025
Tokyo, Japan
Solar Media Events
March 11, 2025
Frankfurt, Germany