First Solar announced that it has signed a patent license agreement with Oxford Photovoltaics Limited, granting it rights to use Oxford PV’s existing granted patents and pending patent applications.
This non-exclusive license paves the way for First Solar, the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere and the world’s largest producer of thin-film solar technology, to further develop photovoltaic devices incorporating perovskite semiconductors. Such products could potentially be utilized in the U.S. utility-scale, commercial & industrial (C&I), and residential solar markets in the future. The license covers potential production and sales of such products within the United States, but does not include crystalline silicon semiconductors. Other terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, stated: “This agreement enables us to continue exploring viable pathways for the commercialization and production of thin-film perovskite products, supporting our long-term goal of serving all our target markets. This agreement reflects our confidence in the progress our R&D team has made in developing efficient, stable, and manufacturable perovskite devices, and it aligns with our consistent stance on respecting and protecting intellectual property rights.”
First Solar has invested over $2 billion in thin-film technology research and development, with a significant focus on perovskite technology. The company has established a new perovskite R&D pilot line at its Perrysburg, Ohio facility, capable of producing small-scale modules based on perovskite semiconductors. This pilot line has helped First Solar achieve several key internal milestones in its perovskite development programs, including initial targets for efficiency, stability, and manufacturability.
Oxford PV is a leader in perovskite photovoltaic technology, holding one of the world’s most comprehensive patent portfolios for perovskite solar technology. Headquartered in the UK, the company employs a diversified business model combining manufacturing and strategic licensing, aimed at advancing perovskite photovoltaics to become a mainstream technology. Oxford PV produces and commercializes perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells and modules in Brandenburg, Germany, and plans to expand production capacity to achieve large-scale manufacturing as part of its long-term growth strategy.
