Trina Solar vs. Canadian Solar: Court Date Set!
On February 10, 2025, the photovoltaic industry witnessed the largest patent lawsuit in its history. Trina Solar filed a lawsuit against Canadian Solar and its subsidiaries in the Jiangsu High People’s Court, accusing them of infringing on two core invention patents, with a total claim of up to 1.058 billion yuan. This dispute, referred to as the “Century Patent War” within the industry, has brought the two component giants into the spotlight and reflects a deeper transformation in the photovoltaic sector, shifting from capacity competition to a battle over technological barriers.
Recently, the WeChat account PV-info reported that the patent infringement dispute involving Trina Solar and Changshu Canadian Solar Technology Co., Ltd., as well as Canadian Solar Inc., is scheduled to be heard on March 26, 2025, at 9:15 AM.
On February 11, 2025, Trina Solar announced that it had filed two lawsuits against Canadian Solar in the Jiangsu High People’s Court. According to Trina Solar’s announcement, the patents in question are for the “Solar Cell Module” (Patent No.: ZL201710975923.2) and “Solar Cell and its Manufacturing Method” (Patent No.: ZL201510892086.8), with claims totaling 1.058 billion yuan. The latter specifically targets the current mainstream TOPCon battery technology. Trina Solar alleges that Canadian Solar has used these patents without authorization in their component manufacturing and demands an immediate cessation of the infringement, along with the destruction of inventory and specialized equipment.
It is noteworthy that both patents originated from a patent package acquired by Trina Solar from a subsidiary of JinkoSolar in 2024, which is viewed as a crucial step in what the industry terms a “technological strike.” In response, Canadian Solar firmly denied the infringement the following day, stating that it had conducted thorough research on the relevant patents and believes they are invalid and that its production processes do not constitute infringement. The company also disclosed that it had filed a request for patent invalidation with the National Intellectual Property Administration back in August 2024, and the case is currently under review.
Additionally, the litigation between the two companies in the United States is escalating simultaneously: Trina Solar initiated a 337 investigation in October 2024, with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) expected to hold hearings in October 2025 and render a final ruling by May 2026. The disputes can be traced back to May 2024, when Trina Solar detained nine containers of Canadian Solar’s components destined for Europe at Shanghai Customs on the grounds of suspected infringement, which were later released after Canadian Solar paid a bond.
In October 2024, Canadian Solar filed two lawsuits against Trina Solar at the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court, claiming damages amounting to 100 million yuan for patent infringement. In November of the same year, Canadian Solar filed a suit at the Suzhou Intermediate People’s Court seeking a declaration of non-infringement concerning the “Solar Cell Module” and the “Solar Cell and its Manufacturing Method.” The patent offensive and defensive actions between the two companies regarding TOPCon technology have been ongoing for nearly a year and a half, creating a dual-front battle of “domestic + overseas.”
TOPCon is currently the mainstream technology route in the photovoltaic industry. Trina Solar claims to hold over 500 related patents, with 57 of them registered with customs. If Canadian Solar loses, it may face a halt in the production of TOPCon components or be required to pay substantial licensing fees, directly impacting its global market share. Meanwhile, Trina Solar aims to solidify its voice in the N-type technology domain through these patent lawsuits.
Industry insiders believe that Trina Solar’s demands for the destruction of equipment and hefty compensation are seen as “leaving no room for negotiation.” Canadian Solar has stated that it will “fight to the end,” indicating that the conflict between the two companies has reached an irreconcilable point. Overall, the progress of this 1 billion yuan lawsuit and the interplay of judicial battles in the U.S. will ultimately determine the outcome of this “Century Solar Litigation.”
