Chinese solar module manufacturer JinkoSolar has extended its ongoing patent dispute with rival LONGi Green Energy to Australia. The company has filed a lawsuit alleging patent infringement in the Federal Court of Australia.
Jinko’s subsidiaries—Jinko Solar Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Shanghai Jinko Green Energy Management Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Jinko Green Energy Co., Ltd—initiated the legal action on February 4, accusing LONGi’s subsidiary, Solar Australia Pty Ltd, of violating patents related to key solar cell and module technologies. The case has been accepted by the Federal Court, with a first hearing scheduled for February 21.
This lawsuit follows similar legal actions JinkoSolar has taken against LONGi in China and Japan earlier this year. While specific details regarding the patents in question have not been disclosed, JinkoSolar emphasized that the case revolves around core photovoltaic technologies essential to high-efficiency solar cell and module design.
The legal battle reflects a broader trend in the solar industry, where manufacturers seek to protect their intellectual property amid intensifying competition and pricing pressures. Several major players, including Maxeon, Aiko, Hanwha Q Cells, First Solar, Trina Solar, Runergy, Adani, JA Solar, and Astronergy, have been involved in similar disputes in recent years.
PV Tech has reached out to both JinkoSolar and LONGi for further comment on the case.