A recent ruling by a North Carolina federal judge has sustained the enforceability of three patents held by Shoals Technologies Group LLC in its ongoing infringement lawsuit against Voltage LLC and its Chinese affiliate, Ningbo Voltage Smart Production Co. The patents in question—U.S. Patent Nos. 12,015,375, 12,015,376, and 12,407,295—pertain to lead assemblies that connect solar panel arrays to power inverters.
Judge Michael Urbanski determined that the evidence presented during a bench trial earlier this year did not substantiate claims of inequitable conduct or unclean hands by Shoals, thereby upholding the validity of the patents. However, the court indicated that certain issues would be considered should the case proceed to a damages verdict.
This decision follows a series of legal actions between the two companies. In February 2026, an Administrative Law Judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued an initial determination that Voltage’s LYNX trunk bus products infringed upon Shoals’ ‘375 and ‘376 patents. The ITC’s final determination is anticipated by June 2026, which may include a Presidential review. If the initial ruling is upheld, it could lead to the prohibition of importing the infringing products into the United States.
In a related development, in March 2026, Judge Urbanski dismissed Shoals’ state law claims of unfair trade practices and unfair competition against Voltage but allowed the patent infringement claims to proceed. The court noted that it would assess evidence of infringement by Voltage’s alternative designs at the summary judgment stage or at trial.
Shoals Technologies Group, headquartered in Portland, Tennessee, is a manufacturer of electrical infrastructure solutions for utility-scale solar projects. The company has been actively defending its intellectual property rights, emphasizing the importance of protecting domestic innovations in the energy sector.
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcomes of both the federal court case and the ITC investigation are expected to have significant implications for the solar energy industry, particularly concerning the enforcement of patent rights and the importation of solar technology products.