An Italian company called New Time specializes in architectural solutions that integrate energy production, such as panoramic windows, pergolas, and various fixtures.
It is also involved in a collaboration with Huasun, a China-based photovoltaic cell producer, to establish a 1 GW solar panel production line in Italy using HJT (Hetero-junction technology) with perovskite layers.
Recently, New Time developed three new products: floors, glass tiles for roofs and glass for parapets and curtain walls, all photovoltaic. For the development of these innovations, in the area of photovoltaic technology, New Time is collaborating with Chinese companies, which are known to be at the forefront of the subject.
With Huasaun in particular, the collaboration goes beyond product innovation: "With Huasun, the world's leading producer of photovoltaic cells, we signed an agreement in May. The aim is to implement in Italy a production line with a capacity of 1 GW of the latest generation of solar panels: HJT cells (hetero junction technology, ed.) with layers of perovskite, a family of synthetic materials derived from elements widely available in Italy and Europe, which would solve the problem of dependence on silicon from major non-EU suppliers such as China, Peru and Bolivia. For truly local production. For this new pole, we are negotiating the purchase of two new plants, both in Romagna, to start production in the third quarter of 2026".
Under the agreement with Huasun, a technology transfer program will be launched, involving the deployment of Italian engineers to China to gain expertise and transfer it back to Italy
In May, the Emilia-Romagna Region gave a green light to the 25.5 million investment plan submitted by New Time to Mimit, with a procedure managed by Invitalia, to access a public contribution of 6.4 million. part of the money will be earmarked for each of the different plants and the redevelopment of the Forlì headquarters, which houses the offices and showroom.
"The initial investment in Budrio amounted to EUR 18.5 million, adding the 25.5 of the project submitted to Invitalia and the economic commitment for the new perovskite panel production facilities with Huasun we arrive at around EUR 50 million in the period 2022-2026," explains founder and sole director Paolo Cimatti: "With our traditional business, which has continued to grow over the years, we have exceeded EUR 110 million in turnover in 2024. We are now focusing on new products. We have acquired disused factories that we are modernizing. And for future developments we also envisage an important employment spin-off. Today we have 600 collaborators and 250 employees, which will become around 300 by 2026, between the Budrio and San Lazzaro sites. Not counting the 70-100 that will be needed for the new perovskite pole".
