The Chinese manufacturer Huasun and the Italian developer New Time Plan to jointly develop a 1 GW heterojunction-perovskite tandem solar line in northern Italy at the third quarter of 2026, with public support and a focus on buildings-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) Applications.
The Chinese solar manufacturer Huasun works together with the Italian specialist in the field of Bouw-Energy New Time to set up a 1 GW production line for heterojunction-perovskite tandem panels in Emilia-Romagna. The line is planned to start production in the third quarter of 2026 and will serve the growing BIPV portfolio of New Time.
The May 2025 agreement includes technology transfer and training, with Italian engineers who work on Huasun before they return to scale production in Italy. The project is intended to introduce the next generation of solar production and to reduce the dependence on silicon without suns.
New time integrates solar energy into buildings and offers panoramic PV windows, pergola structures and adapted installations. Founder Paolo Cimatti said that the first parties have been sold PV floors, with installations that start in September. Roof tiles undergo certification and discussions are underway for the first overseas project with transparent PV glass.
The company is negotiating acquisitions in Emilia-Romagna, with the production expected in the third quarter of 2026. Regional authorities have approved an investment plan of € 25.5 million ($ 29.8 million) via the National Development Agency, including € 6.4 million in public financing. Of the plan, € 8.3 million will finance the processing of the glass in Boudrio, € 15.7 million will support the assembly of new products and an R&D center in San Lazzaro di Savena, and € 1 million will be allocated to refurbishing the head office in Forlì.
Cimatti said that the cumulative investments will achieve approximately € 50 million compared to 2022-26, combining the initial € 18.5 million in Budio, the program supported by Invalia and capital expenses for the tandem line. New Time’s turnover in 2024 exceeded € 110 million, with 250 employees and around 600 employees. The Budrio and San Lazzaro sites are expected to reach 300 employees by 2026, while the tandem production center has been set to create another 70-100 jobs.
If completed on schedule, the project would be among the largest BIPV-oriented on solar energy production in Italy, where advanced cell technology is combined with architectural applications.
Huasun continues to promote its own R&D in heterojunction and tandem technologies. During an industrial conference in April 2025, the company reported to achieve 29% efficiency on a 210 mm HJT -Perovskite tandem cell. A pilot line is expected to deliver demonstration modules to Chinese customers later this year. The company has also introduced a new encapsulation design that combines optical conversion film with butyl rubber, aimed at cutting the annual current breakdown of its dental modules under 0.3%.
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