New Time, Huasun to build perovskite panel line in Italy

• New Time partners with Huasun to launch a 1-GW HJT-perovskite solar panel line in Emilia-Romagna by Q3 2026, backed by regional funding and tied to new BIPV products.

Italian architectural-energy specialist New Time plans to bring next-generation solar manufacturing to Italy through a collaboration with China’s Huasun, aiming to install a 1-GW production line for heterojunction (HJT) modules enhanced with perovskite layers. The partners signed their agreement in May, pairing technology transfer with on-the-ground training: Italian engineers will spend time at Huasun’s facilities before returning to scale production domestically.

New Time—known for integrating photovoltaics into buildings via panoramic windows, pergolas and bespoke fixtures—has recently unveiled three BIPV product families: load-bearing photovoltaic floors, glass tiles for pitched roofs, and laminated glass for parapets and curtain walls. The HJT-perovskite architecture targeted for the new line is positioned to underpin these offerings with higher efficiencies, while the use of perovskite compounds aims to reduce reliance on solar-grade silicon sourced outside the EU.

The manufacturing push is centered in Emilia-Romagna. New Time says it is negotiating the purchase of two plants in Romagna, with commercial production slated for the third quarter of 2026. The regional government has already signaled support: in May, Emilia-Romagna gave the green light to a EUR 25.5 million investment plan submitted to the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) through Invitalia, unlocking a EUR 6.4 million public contribution. The funds will be split across the planned factories and the redevelopment of New Time’s Forlì headquarters, which hosts offices and a showroom.

Founder and sole director Paolo Cimatti pegs cumulative investments at roughly EUR 50 million across 2022–2026, combining the initial EUR 18.5 million in Budrio, the Invitalia-backed program, and capex for the perovskite line with Huasun. On the operations side, New Time reported more than EUR 110 million in revenue for 2024 as its traditional business continued to grow. Headcount currently stands at around 600 collaborators and 250 employees; the company expects to reach about 300 employees by 2026 across Budrio and San Lazzaro, plus an additional 70–100 roles for the new perovskite hub.

If executed on schedule, the initiative would establish one of Italy’s largest BIPV-oriented solar manufacturing footprints—aligning advanced cell technology with local, design-driven applications in the built environment.