Wedoany.com Report-Aug. 20, Chinese solar manufacturer Huasun has collaborated with Italian building-energy specialist New Time to establish a 1-gigawatt production line for heterojunction-perovskite tandem solar panels in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. The facility, set to begin operations in the third quarter of 2026, will support New Time’s growing portfolio of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

Signed in May 2025, the agreement includes technology transfer and training, with Italian engineers gaining expertise at Huasun’s facilities before returning to scale up production in Italy. The project aims to advance next-generation solar manufacturing and enhance local supply chains for solar materials. New Time specializes in integrating solar solutions into buildings, offering products like panoramic photovoltaic windows, pergola structures, and custom installations. “Initial batches of photovoltaic flooring have been sold, with installations starting in September,” said Paolo Cimatti, founder of New Time. The company is also certifying solar roof tiles and negotiating its first international project using transparent photovoltaic glass.

New Time is in discussions to acquire two plants in Emilia-Romagna to support the production line, with operations planned for the third quarter of 2026. The regional government has approved a €25.5 million ($29.8 million) investment plan through Italy’s national development agency, including €6.4 million in public funding. The investment allocates €8.3 million for glass processing in Budrio, €15.7 million for product assembly and a research and development center in San Lazzaro di Savena, and €1 million for refurbishing New Time’s headquarters in Forlì. “Cumulative investment will reach about €50 million over 2022-26,” Cimatti noted, combining the initial €18.5 million in Budrio, the funded program, and capital for the tandem line.

New Time reported over €110 million in revenue in 2024, employing 250 staff and engaging approximately 600 collaborators. By 2026, the Budrio and San Lazzaro sites are expected to employ 300 workers, with the tandem production facility adding 70 to 100 jobs. If completed as planned, the project will be among Italy’s largest BIPV-focused solar manufacturing hubs, integrating advanced cell technology with architectural applications.

Huasun is advancing its research in heterojunction and tandem technologies, achieving a 29% efficiency rate for a 210mm heterojunction-perovskite tandem cell, as reported at an industry conference in April 2025. A pilot line will deliver demonstration modules to customers in China later this year, featuring a new encapsulation design with optical conversion film and butyl rubber to reduce annual power degradation below 0.3%.