SINGAPORE, Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Maxeon Solar Technologies, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MAXN), a global leader in solar innovation and channels, today announced that its subsidiary Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd. filed patent infringement lawsuits against Shanghai Aiko Solar Energy Co., Ltd., its subsidiaries Aiko Energy Germany GmbH and Solarlab Aiko Europe GmbH, and its wholesaler Memodo GmbH in Mannheim District Court, Germany.
Maxeon Solar Technologies Logo (PRNewsfoto/Maxeon Solar Technologies)
The lawsuit against Aiko and Memodo alleges infringement of Maxeon’s European Patent No. EP2297788B1 (“Back-contacted solar cells with doped polysilicon regions separated via trench structures and fabrication process therefor”). This patent relates to proprietary and fundamental solar cell architectures for rear or back contact solar cells, also known as All-Back Contact (ABC) solar cells or Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cells.
Back contact solar cells, such as Maxeon IBC solar cells, are distinct from conventional front contact solar cells, which have metal contacts on the front surface. Front surface metal contacts block sunlight and reduce efficiency. Back contact solar cells allow for the front surface of the solar cell to be completely exposed to sunlight without any shading from metal contacts, thereby maximizing efficiency and energy yield. Maxeon sells solar panels that utilize Maxeon IBC solar cells in its industry-leading Maxeon line of solar panels.
“Maxeon is an industry leader in Interdigitated Back Contact (IBC) solar cell technology, with the company having pioneered the development of this cell structure more than 20 years ago. Since the first IBC solar cells were made commercially available in 2004, a lot of progress has been made and we recently announced a world-record module aperture efficiency measurement of 24.7% for the company’s next generation IBC panels. The intellectual property behind the IBC technology is the outcome of significant investments and technical advancements and the resultant Maxeon line produces the industry’s most efficient panels,” said Bill Mulligan, Maxeon’s CEO. “The lawsuit against Aiko and Memodo is necessary to protect our intellectual property, significant R&D and other investments, as well as our reputation and deep heritage and culture of innovation.”