Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
US tariff-circumvention determination
The US Department of Commerce ruled that Canadian Solar had circumvented tariffs on certain Chinese-made goods. The determination formed part of broader US scrutiny of photovoltaic supply chains and trade practices.
2021
Xinjiang supply-chain and asset scrutiny
Media reports and advocacy organizations questioned Canadian Solar’s operation of solar facilities in Xinjiang and its relationship with suppliers connected to allegations of forced labor involving Uyghurs. The company denied forced-labor connections and stated that it was developing supplier-audit processes. It later sold its two Xinjiang solar plants.
2020
Solaria sues Canadian Solar over patent infringement claims
Lawsuit filed
Solaria filed suit against Canadian Solar in federal court in California, alleging that Canadian Solar infringed Solaria's U.S. patent related to shingled solar panels. The source reports the allegation, not a court determination.
Source excerpt
The suit claims that Canadian Solar infringes Solaria’s U.S. patent concerning a process for separating photovoltaic strips from silicon solar cells for use in more-efficient tiled or “shingled” solar panels.
Solaria, a high-efficiency solar panel manufacturer based in California, filed suit against Canadian Solar, a solar module builder headquartered in China, in Federal District Court for the Northern District of California.
The lawsuit claims Canadian Solar infringes Solaria’s U.S. patent concerning a process for separating photovoltaic strips from silicon solar cells for use in more-efficient tiled, or “shingled”, solar panels.