Hanwha Q Cells Japan faces patent lawsuit in Japan

Kyocera Corp., a Japanese solar panel maker, said Friday it has sued South Korea’s Hanwha Q Cells Japan for alleged infringement of a solar module patent,putting a brake on Hanwha’s efforts to expand its solar energy business in Japan.

Kyocera Corp. filed the patent suit with Tokyo District Court on Thursday, claiming Hanwha Q Cells Japan infringed its 2012 patent for a “3-busbar electrode structure” that increases energy conversion efficiency in solar modules.

“Kyocera is negotiating with other parties regarding the patent,” the Tokyo-based company said in a statement posted on its website.

Hanwha, one of South Korea’s leading chemicals companies, acquired Germany’s Q Cells in 2012. Kyocera’s patent suit comes as Hanwha is expanding its business in the Japanese solar panel market, which has grown rapidly since the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011.

“It seems that there are several intentions behind the suit. We will carefully look into the complaint once it arrives and deal with it accordingly,” a Hanwha official said, requesting anonymity. (Yonhap)