3sun

About 3sun

Originally established as a joint venture in 2010 by Enel Green Power, Sharp Corporation, and STMicroelectronics, 3Sun began its journey in Catania, Italy, to manufacture photovoltaic panels. By 2015, Enel Green Power became the sole shareholder, steering the company's focus towards advanced solar technologies. A significant milestone was achieved in 2018 with the introduction of Heterojunction Technology (HJT), leading to the mass production of bifacial solar panels by August 2019. These panels can capture sunlight from both sides, a key differentiator in the market.

The company operates as a large-scale photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, serving both utility-scale solar plants and the distributed generation market, which includes residential and commercial clients. Its business model centers on producing and selling high-performance solar modules. A major expansion project, dubbed TANGO (iTaliAN pv Giga factOry), is currently underway, backed by significant financing from the European Investment Bank, Italian banks, and the EU's Innovation Fund. This expansion aims to increase the factory's annual production capacity from 200 MW to 3 GW by July 2024, positioning it as the largest solar panel factory in Europe. The increased output is expected to generate enough clean energy to supply the equivalent of 1 million households annually.

3Sun's product portfolio is centered around its proprietary CORE-H® heterojunction technology, which combines crystalline and amorphous silicon to enhance efficiency and durability. A standout feature of its modules is a 95% bifaciality factor, enabling high energy capture from both direct and reflected sunlight. This technology allows the company to offer a 30-year performance warranty. Looking ahead, 3Sun is developing "Tandem" technology, which stacks two cells to capture more of the light spectrum, with the goal of surpassing 30% conversion efficiency. The highly automated and continuously operating factory is also committed to sustainability, focusing on a low carbon footprint and developing methods to recycle materials like silver, glass, and indium.