First Solar Secures Access To Oxford PV’s Perovskite Patents In New U.S.-Focused Licensing Deal To Advance Next-Gen Solar Devices

First Solar, Inc. announced that it has entered into a patent licensing agreement that grants the company access to both existing issued patents and pending patent applications owned by Oxford Photovoltaics Limited. This agreement strengthens First Solar’s ability to continue advancing its work in next-generation photovoltaic technologies. The license is non-exclusive, meaning both companies retain the ability to collaborate with others, but it gives First Solar the rights it needs to explore and potentially commercialize solar devices that incorporate a perovskite semiconductor.

These devices could serve a wide range of US markets, including utility-scale projects, commercial and industrial installations, and even residential systems. The scope of the agreement covers the possibility of manufacturing and distributing such products within the United States, while specifically excluding any technologies that use crystalline silicon. Beyond these details, the companies did not disclose further terms.

Mark Widmar, CEO of First Solar, stated that the agreement helps support the company’s long-term vision of developing thin film–perovskite products capable of competing across all major solar segments. He also noted that the decision reflects the company’s confidence in the progress of its internal R&D team, which has been working toward creating an efficient, durable, and commercially viable perovskite-based device. Widmar reinforced that the agreement aligns with First Solar’s commitment to protecting and respecting intellectual property rights throughout the industry.

First Solar has invested more than $2 billion to date in developing thin film solar technology, with a growing focus on perovskite materials. A key part of this investment is the company’s new perovskite development line located at its campus in Perrysburg, Ohio. This facility produces small-format modules built with a perovskite semiconductor layer, giving First Solar an in-house platform to test, evaluate, and optimize early-stage device performance. Through this development line, the company has been able to reach several internal milestones related to efficiency, operational stability, and manufacturing readiness.

On the other side of the partnership, Oxford PV is widely recognized as a leading innovator in perovskite solar technology. The company holds the strongest global patent portfolio in the field and has spent over a decade working to bring perovskite photovoltaics into mainstream adoption. Headquartered in the UK, Oxford PV follows a business model that blends in-house manufacturing with strategic licensing agreements. It currently produces perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells and modules at its facility in Brandenburg, Germany, and is planning to expand into higher-volume production as part of its long-term growth plans.

David Ward, CEO of Oxford PV, emphasized that strong intellectual property frameworks are essential for supporting innovation across the solar sector. He welcomed First Solar’s continued dedication to advancing perovskite-based PV technologies and noted that agreements like this one demonstrate the growing industry confidence in perovskite photovoltaics. Ward added that such collaborations help accelerate the technology’s development and adoption in key markets such as the United States.

First Solar has been manufacturing in the United States since 2002 and remains the country’s leading PV technology and manufacturing company. Today, it operates five large-scale manufacturing plants in Alabama, Louisiana, and Ohio, along with an extensive research and development footprint. A sixth facility is under construction in South Carolina, with operations expected to begin in the second half of 2026. Once complete, this new plant will add an additional 3.7 gigawatts of annual production capacity, raising the company’s total US nameplate capacity to approximately 18 gigawatts by 2027. Since 2019, First Solar will have invested around $4.5 billion in American manufacturing and R&D infrastructure, reinforcing its role as one of the nation’s key contributors to domestic clean energy supply chains.