Runergy has approached USPTO with the request to cancel Trinasolar’s claims on 2 TOPCon-related patents
It says the TOPCon cell technology was first described and published by Fraunhofer ISE
Trinasolar filed for the patents over a year after the publication by Fraunhofer ISE
Solar PV manufacturer Runergy wants the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to declare 2 of Trinasolar’s patents related to Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) solar cell technology as ‘unpatentable.’
It claims that Trinasolar does not own the 2 TOPCon patents, rather it purchased the same in February 2024. The 2 patents were not filed until more than a year after Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy published its work on their making in 2013.
Runergy explained, “As early as 2013, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy had already published and described the making of TOPCon solar cells, following teachings published even earlier in the 1980s. The two Trina Solar acquired patents were not filed until more than a year after the Fraunhofer Institute 2013 publication. They thus could not be patentable for attempting to cover TOPCon solar cell with only obvious variations already known in the prior art.”
Notably, Trinasolar has accused Runergy and India’s Adani of infringing on 2 of its TOPCon technology related patents. It wants the USITC to issued cease and desist orders for their products in the US (see Trinasolar Files Complaint Against Runergy & Adani Green Energy).
However, Runergy claims that it has done extensive research to have developed its own, unique TOPCon solar cell manufacturing process ‘one that does not practice the patents that Trina Solar is asserting in the ITC and District Court actions.’
Recently, Runergy launched its 2 GW n-type solar module factory in Alabama, US (see Runergy’s 2 GW Solar Module Manufacturing Fab In Alabama, US).