DALTON, Georgia, March 5, 2019 – Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. and Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc. (collectively, “Hanwha Q CELLS”), global leading photovoltaic manufacturers of high-performance solar cells and modules, announced that they have filed a patent infringement complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) against JinkoSolar, LONGi Solar, and REC Group. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. also filed related patent infringement complaints with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware against the same companies. In Germany, Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH announced the filing of patent infringement complaints with the Regional Court of Düsseldorf against JinkoSolar and REC Group.
The ITC complaint alleges that JinkoSolar, LONGi Solar, and REC Group are unlawfully importing and selling solar cells and modules that infringe Hanwha Q CELLS’s patented passivation technology. The complaint alleges that JinkoSolar, LONGi Solar, and REC Group have unlawfully incorporated this patented passivation technology—which plays an important role in improving the efficiency and performance of solar cells—into their solar cells. Hanwha Q CELLS began manufacturing Q.ANTUM solar cells using this passivation technology in 2012 and has produced more than 2.5 billion such cells globally. Hanwha Q CELLS seeks an immediate investigation by the ITC, an exclusion order to halt the importation of infringing products, and a permanent cease and desist order to stop the respondents from importing, marketing, and selling those products in the U.S. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. is also filing a claim in the District Court to seek damages and injunctive relief.
“Intellectual property laws exist to incentivize innovation and protect inventions from being unfairly used, and we will vigorously defend our technology from infringement,” said Hee Cheul (Charles) Kim, Chief Executive Officer of Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. “Our high-quality photovoltaic products have established us as an industry leader, and we are proud of our legacy of innovation. We have taken these actions both to protect our property rights and to give the market confidence that research and development initiatives to develop future technologies can continue.”
“The passivation technology at issue in these legal actions is critical to Hanwha Q CELLS’s plans for the future. Our high-efficiency modules rely on this patented technology and set us apart from competitors. We have built a new 1.7-gigawatt facility in Dalton, Georgia, dedicated to assembling Hanwha Q CELLS’s modules for sale in the United States, and we look forward to a long relationship with the Dalton community. This is the largest factory of its kind in the western hemisphere and reflects our commitment to the United States and the important markets here. We believe that the legal actions we have taken in the United States and Germany will effectively protect our ability to innovate and reinforce our reputation as a leading supplier of high-quality products and a trusted business partner to our customers.”
For additional information on this matter, please visit www.q-cellsip.com.
About Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp.
Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. is a photovoltaic manufacturer with business operations in South Korea and manufacturing facilities in the United States (Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc.) and South Korea. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. offers a full spectrum of photovoltaic products, applications, and solutions, from cells and modules to kits, and large-scale solar power plants. Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp. provides excellent services and long-term partnerships to its customers in the utility, commercial, governmental, and residential markets
About Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc.
Hanwha Q CELLS USA Inc. is located in Dalton, Georgia, and is a solar module manufacturing facility. It is a subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS & Advanced Materials Corp., one of the world’s largest and most recognized photovoltaic manufacturers.
About Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH
Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH is the German subsidiary of Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd. Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH is responsible for the R&D, sale, and installation of a full spectrum of solar components—from modules and kits to systems and large-scale solar power plants—across all European markets, as well as Latin America, the Middle East, and North Africa. Hanwha Q CELLS GmbH’s parent company, Hanwha Q CELLS Co., Ltd., has diverse international manufacturing facilities in Malaysia and China.
Safe-Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Hanwha Q CELLS’s operations and business outlook contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, Hanwha Q CELLS does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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