Canadian Solar has reached an agreement with Solaria to not sell battery modules using shingled technology in the U.S. market for seven years.
Shingled modules on display at Canadian Solar's 2019 SPI show
Solaria has agreed to terminate its patent infringement lawsuit against Canadian Solar in exchange for Canadians stopping distribution of its shingled solar modules in the United States.
Solaria first filed a lawsuit against Canadian Solar in March 2020, alleging that Canadian Solar "stealed" Solaria's U.S. patented process to separate PV strips from solar cells for use in "shingled" solar modules.
Solaria first introduced its high-efficiency, high-density module (HDM) technology to Canadian Solar in 2014, when Canadian representatives evaluated Solaria's next-generation shingled technology for a potential licensing deal. In the following year, the two companies further cooperated. Solaria disclosed its patented technology and business strategy to Canadian Solar under a nondisclosure agreement, but the two parties did not reach an agreement.
With an apparent reference to Solaria's proprietary HDM technology, Canadian Solar launched its "HiDM" shingled modules in 2018 and began promoting and selling them in the US, which were showcased at the 2019 International Solar Show. Solaria maintains that Canadian Solar's HiDM shingled module infringes the Solaria patent.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in October 2021 that Canadian Solar did infringe Solaria's patents. The recently announced solution resolves all patent infringement disputes related to Solaria's proprietary shingled solar module technology.
Solaria CEO Tony Alvarez said, "Solaria initially filed suit against Canadian Solar because they chose to ignore and infringe on Solaria's core intellectual property rights. In publishing the preliminary ruling of the ITC investigation, the Chief Administrative Law Judge admitted that Canadian Solar had infringed Solaria patent.
Solaria PV modules used in a GAF Energy project
Solaria remains open to working with companies that recognize the value of Solaria's intellectual property. We have licensed Solaria's technology to other companies in the industry. Solaria will actively protect our intellectual property from any infringer and protect our technology for ourselves and our valued partners. "