REC Solar Holdings AS

REC Solar Holdings AS (often referred to as REC Group or REC Solar) is a solar energy company headquartered in Norway with operational headquarters in Singapore. Founded in 1996, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance New Energy Solar Limited, which is part of the Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd, following an acquisition in October 2021 for US$771 million. The company operates globally with approximately 2,000 employees.

REC Group manufactures silicon materials for photovoltaic (PV) applications, including multicrystalline wafers, solar cells, and high-quality solar modules/panels. The company is known for its innovative products, such as those utilizing half-cut heterojunction (HJT) cell technology, and provides comprehensive solar solutions for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects. REC emphasizes integrated manufacturing, producing PV modules from raw silicon to finished panels internally.

REC Solar Holdings AS is an active two-way litigant in patent disputes, as evidenced by its appearance as both a plaintiff and a defendant in tracked cases. The company is currently involved in a patent dispute with Maxeon Solar Pte Ltd. One notable action includes Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd. filing a patent infringement lawsuit against REC Solar Holdings AS in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on April 19, 2024, a venue often favored by patent plaintiffs.

In response to Maxeon's claims, REC Solar Holdings AS initiated an Inter Partes Review (IPR) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) against Maxeon Solar Pte Ltd. on February 14, 2025, challenging the validity of one of Maxeon's patents (US11251315B2). This case reflects a strategic litigation posture involving both defensive (as defendant in EDTX) and offensive (as plaintiff in PTAB for IPR) actions against a competitor in the solar technology sector, specifically concerning TOPCon solar cell technology.