Shoals Secures ITC Ruling Confirming Voltage Patent Infringement
The U.S. International Trade Commission’s Administrative Law Judge found on February 6 that Voltage, LLC infringed Shoals’ patented Big Lead Assembly by importing LYNX trunk bus products in violation of Section 337. A final ITC ruling, potentially with Presidential review, is due by June 2026 and could bar infringing imports.
1. ITC Initial Determination
On February 6, an Administrative Law Judge at the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that Voltage, LLC violated Section 337 by importing LYNX trunk bus products that infringe Shoals’ patented Big Lead Assembly. This initial decision validates Shoals’ intellectual property and marks a key legal victory for its domestically designed and manufactured BLA solutions.
2. Implications for Shoals
The ruling safeguards Shoals’ market share in mission-critical utility-scale solar projects by potentially barring infringing imports, protecting installation efficiency and long-term reliability advantages. It reinforces Shoals’ competitive moat by ensuring that domestic innovation, rather than foreign imitators, drives energy infrastructure deployment.
3. Next Steps and Timeline
The ITC’s final determination, which may include a Presidential review, is expected by June 2026. If upheld, it will prevent further unlawful imports of infringing trunk bus systems, while Shoals continues its appeal on a separate patent dispute at the U.S. Court of Appeals.