After announcing its decision to foray into solar cell manufacturing, Italian solar module manufacturer FuturaSun is further expanding its technology portfolio with the addition of perovskites through the acquisition of University of Rome Tor Vergata spin-off Solertix.
It aims to 'bring out a stable, competitive final product with broad applicability, including rooftop solar, agrivoltaics, integrated photovoltaics in infrastructure and more'.
FuturaSun CEO Alessandro Barin explains the logic as, "Perovskite is the future of high-efficiency photovoltaics, and in this specific R&D segment, we couldn't afford not to be key players, working alongside those who are dedicated to scientific research at the highest academic levels."
Solertix specializes in 3rd generation PV, it said, with a focus on perovskite solar cells research and upscaling for industrial applications.
FuturaSun said it brings to the table its position as an industrial partner to further research in a highly promising sector.
The perovskite start-up originated from the university's Organic Solar Center (CHOSE) founded by Professor Aldo Di Carlo who will now be the president of the Scientific Committee in the new company. He is joined by ex-Solliance materials scientist Francesco Di Giacomo and physicist Erik Eikelboom who has been working with FuturaSun for its innovative projects.
The Italian company plans to further expand the team members to take 'concrete steps towards developing cells with increasingly higher efficiencies, surpassing those of crystalline silicon photovoltaics'.
In May 2023, FuturaSun announced a 10 GW n-type TOPCon cell manufacturing fab in China's Jiangsu province to be used for its Italian and Chinese gigafactories (see Italian Company Unveils Major Solar Ambition).