Breaking News! A Record-breaking Single Patent Licensing Fee Of Approximately $238 Million Has Been Paid!

On the evening of February 6, 2026, Aiko Solar (600732.SH) and TCL Zhonghuan (002129.SZ) simultaneously announced that Aiko Solar will pay approximately $238 million (equivalent to RMB 1.65 billion) to obtain exclusive global licensing rights to BC battery-related patents from Maxeon, a subsidiary of TCL Zhonghuan, covering N-type BC batteries and future iterations. This amount sets a new record for the largest single patent licensing fee in global photovoltaic history, marking a shift in the Chinese photovoltaic industry from "scale-driven competition" to in-depth technological development.

Key Event: $238 Million Patent Transaction Completed, Two Chinese Giants Join Forces to Rewrite Industry Rules

This cooperation has become the focus of the photovoltaic industry at the beginning of 2026.

According to the announcement, during the cooperation period, Aiko Solar will pay approximately $238 million in exclusive licensing fees to obtain exclusive global rights to use all of Maxeon's BC battery-related patents (including authorized, pending, and future iteration patents).

Maxeon, a core high-efficiency photovoltaic technology segment under TCL Zhonghuan, boasts a comprehensive patent portfolio in the BC cell field and is one of the global leaders in this technology route. Aiko Solar, a leading N-type cell manufacturer, shipped 6.33GW of ABC modules in 2024, a surge of nearly 1200% year-on-year, exporting its products to over 50 countries worldwide. This licensing agreement will further solidify its market leadership.

Aiko Solar is headquartered in Shanghai, while TCL Zhonghuan is headquartered in Tianjin. This collaboration between the two Chinese photovoltaic giants highlights China's core position in the global photovoltaic industry. By the end of 2025, China will rank first globally in both patent applications and valid patents across the entire photovoltaic industry chain. Both companies are among the top domestic photovoltaic enterprises in terms of valid patents, making this transaction a model for the commercialization of Chinese photovoltaic patents.

Technical Analysis: Why are BC cells worth $238 million? Unlocking a New Track for Photovoltaic Efficiency

BC cells (back-contact cells) represent a core route for high-efficiency photovoltaic technology and are considered by the industry as the ultimate form of single-junction silicon cells. Compared to traditional batteries, its positive and negative electrode contacts are integrated on the back, eliminating front-side grid line obstruction and significantly improving light absorption efficiency. It also boasts advantages such as low high-temperature degradation and wide applicability.

Currently, the mass production efficiency of BC batteries has exceeded 26%, 1.5-2.0 percentage points higher than traditional TOPCon batteries. Each 1% increase in efficiency translates to a 5% increase in power generation revenue, and the total power generation over its lifecycle is 19% higher than traditional batteries. Its grid-free design makes it suitable for residential, commercial and industrial rooftops, and BIPV applications, giving it a significant advantage in the high-end market.

CPIA predicts that the penetration rate of BC batteries will rise from 0.9% in 2023 to 7% in 2025, and exceed 30% in 2030. The market size will jump from 50GW to 165GW, creating an incremental market exceeding 200 billion yuan. Aiko Solar's exclusive licensing agreement will accelerate the commercialization and popularization of this technology.

Industry Impact: Saying Goodbye to Price Wars, the Photovoltaic Industry Enters an Era of "Patents are King" Technology Wars

In recent years, China's photovoltaic industry has been embroiled in price wars due to overcapacity, with prices of major products falling by more than 30% from their peak in 2024. This $238 million patent transaction sends a clear signal: the industry will shift from scale competition to technology competition, with patent barriers becoming a core competitive advantage for companies.

For Aiko Solar, this licensing agreement will solidify its leading position in N-type BC cells, break down technological barriers, increase product premiums, and accelerate the iterative upgrade of its ABC modules based on Maxeon technology.

For TCL Zhonghuan Semiconductor, the $238 million licensing fee will bring stable cash flow, allowing it to focus on cutting-edge technology R&D, strengthen its advantages in silicon wafers and cells, maximize the value of its technology, and form a positive cycle of "R&D-patent-monetization".

This transaction will guide more photovoltaic companies to increase R&D investment and emphasize patent layout, curb low-level duplication of construction, accelerate the elimination of outdated production capacity, promote the industry's transformation towards high-quality development, and enhance the global photovoltaic industry's understanding of the value of technology.

Global Perspective: China Leads in Photovoltaic Technology, Patent Transactions Empower Global Energy Transition

China is currently the global center for photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing and innovation, with PV products accounting for over 70% of the global market share. Its technological R&D and patent portfolio have leaped from "follower" to "leader," and this patent transaction is a testament to the global competitiveness of China's PV technology.

Through this licensing agreement, Aiko Solar can further expand into high-end markets such as the EU and North America. With the EU's CBAM officially implemented in 2026, the low-emission characteristics of BC cells align with its carbon footprint requirements, potentially leading to higher premiums. TCL Zhonghuan can leverage Maxeon to deepen global technological cooperation and enhance the global influence of Chinese PV.

The global energy transition is accelerating, and PV, as a core clean energy source, is key to achieving carbon neutrality for all countries. This patent cooperation will accelerate the adoption of BC cells, reduce the cost of PV electricity, and provide technological support for the global energy transition.

Accelerated Technological Iteration: The PV Industry Ushers in New Opportunities for High-Quality Development

This patent transaction is a microcosm of the upgrading of China's PV technology. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has designated 2026 as the first year of "anti-involution" in the photovoltaic (PV) industry. Future competition will focus on technology and patents, and companies lacking core technologies will be gradually eliminated.

It is expected that high-efficiency technologies such as BC (Bio-Cooled Cell) batteries and perovskite will experience accelerated iteration, leading to more frequent patent transactions. Giants like Aiko Solar and TCL Zhonghuan will leverage their technological and patent advantages to lead the industry, drive supply chain upgrades, promote high-quality development of China's PV industry, and contribute to the global energy transition.

What are your thoughts on this $238 million PV patent transaction? Will BC batteries become the industry mainstream?

Keywords: PV patent licensing fees, BC battery technology, Aiko Solar, TCL Zhonghuan, $238 million PV patents, China's PV industry transformation, PV technology war, global PV patent transactions, BC battery market prospects, China's global PV leadership, end of the PV price war