What 3Sun does

3Sun (3Sun S.r.l.) is a photovoltaic cell and module manufacturer headquartered in Catania, Sicily, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Enel S.p.A. operating under Enel Green Power. The company runs Europe's largest solar Gigafactory — a EUR ~600 million, 3 GW annual-capacity facility described as the world's most automated solar cell and module plant, operating 24/7. Its core technology is the proprietary 3SUN CORE-H heterojunction (HJT) platform, which combines crystalline silicon with amorphous silicon layers to produce bifacial modules with 95% bifaciality, >24% cell efficiency, and a 30-year performance warranty. The product portfolio spans the M40 and M40 BOLD modules for residential and commercial/industrial rooftops (430-480W) and the B60 module for utility-scale applications (640-680W), with a tandem perovskite-over-silicon roadmap targeting >30% efficiency in production.

The business model is primarily B2B hardware sales of photovoltaic modules and cells, executed through direct enterprise sales to utility-scale developers, EPC firms, and large C&I operators, supplemented by distributor and installer channel partners (e.g., Kennew Srl) across Europe. Customer segments include utility-scale solar developers (primary), commercial and industrial rooftop operators (primary), residential rooftop (secondary), and Italian tax-break / incentive recipients benefiting from regulations restricting incentives to EU-made HJT and tandem modules. Revenue is not publicly disclosed at the entity level; pricing is not transparent and customers are directed to distributors or the company's PV Simulator tool. The company is funded through a combination of EU Innovation Fund grants (up to EUR 118M), Italian NRRP/MIMIT development contracts (up to EUR 70M), and senior debt (EUR 560M from EIB and a pool of Italian banks led by UniCredit, backed by SACE Green guarantees and InvestEU) — totaling EUR ~678M+ in committed public and institutional capital supporting the TANGO expansion project. Strategic differentiation rests on EU policy alignment (REPowerEU, Italian tax incentives), 100% European manufacturing, world-record cell efficiencies (24.63% in 2020; 30.8% tandem with CEA/INES in 2025), and a 10+ year R&D partnership with CEA/INES on next-generation tandem technology.

Name

3Sun

Legal name

3Sun S.r.l.

Website

https://3sun.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

3Sun is Enel Green Power's photovoltaic manufacturing subsidiary operating Europe's largest solar Gigafactory in Catania, Italy, producing high-efficiency bifacial heterojunction modules for utility-scale, commercial/industrial, and residential solar markets across Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photovoltaic Module and Cell Manufacturing

SIC

Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar PV Module & Cell Manufacturing (Crystalline, Thin-Film) (EUAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Next-Gen Photovoltaics R&D (Perovskite, Tandem, Organic, BIPV Materials) (EUAMAOAA), Solar Roofing & Roof-Mounted PV Systems (IMADAFAO)

Keywords

• Photovoltaic modules
• Heterojunction solar cells
• Bifacial solar panels
• Utility-scale PV manufacturing
• Rooftop solar modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Catania

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Solar PV Module and Cell Sales: 3SUN generates revenue primarily through the manufacture and sale of photovoltaic modules and cells based on its proprietary heterojunction (HJT) and tandem technologies. Products are sold to utility-scale developers, C&I rooftop operators, and through distributor/installer channels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

3Sun manufactures and sells high-efficiency bifacial heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaic cells and modules — specifically the 3SUN M40, M40 BOLD, and B60 product lines — based on its proprietary 3SUN CORE-H technology at Europe's largest solar gigafactory (3 GW capacity) in Catania, Sicily. The company sells these modules to utility-scale solar farm developers, commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop operators, and through a network of distributors and installers primarily across Europe.

Product overview

3Sun (3SUN S.r.l.) is Enel Green Power's photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing subsidiary based in Catania, Sicily, Italy. The company operates the 3SUN Gigafactory, Europe's first and largest gigawatt-scale factory producing high-efficiency bifacial heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaic panels. The product portfolio centers on three photovoltaic module product lines introduced in 2023: the M40 (residential/commercial rooftops, 440-480W), M40 BOLD (premium distributed generation, 430-470W), and B60 (utility-scale, 640-680W) — all based on the proprietary 3SUN CORE-H heterojunction technology. The CORE-H technology platform enables 95% bifaciality, 24-24.5% cell efficiency, and 30-year performance warranties. Looking ahead, 3Sun is developing Tandem perovskite-over-silicon technology to achieve over 30% efficiency by combining heterojunction with perovskite cell layers. The company recently launched cell production at its 3GW Gigafactory, producing both cells and modules entirely in Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 3SUN CORE-H: 100% European heterojunction (HJT) technology that combines crystalline silicon with amorphous silicon layers for maximized energy extraction
• 3SUN M40
• 3SUN M40 BOLD
• 3SUN B60

Products and services

• 3SUN M40 Photovoltaic Module Base photovoltaic module dedicated to residential and commercial/industrial rooftops, with capacity of 440-480W, designed to minimize installation costs, and built on 3SUN CORE-H HJT technology.
• 3SUN M40 BOLD Photovoltaic Module Premium high-end photovoltaic module for buildings and distributed-generation applications, capacity 430-470W, efficiency up to 24.5%, demonstrated lifetime up to 3x IEC standards, and strong performance in hot summer and adverse climatic conditions.
• 3SUN B60 Photovoltaic Module Utility-scale bifacial glass-glass photovoltaic module with capacity 640-680W (610-640W in the 2025 launch), efficiency reaching 24%, and a 95% bifaciality factor. Features low temperature coefficients and low annual degradation designed to optimize LCOE for large-scale systems including tracking installations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 6.6% higher energy yield than best PERC technologies in Atacama Desert trials
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• SolarPower EuropesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026European solar industry association. 3SUN Head Stefano Lorenzi was elected Vice President of SolarPower Europe (May 2026 Board elections). 3SUN participates in the association as part of the expanded 20-member Board representing companies across the solar and battery storage value chain. Barbara Flesche (Statkraft Europe) succeeded Aristotelis Chantavas as President.
• Kennew SrlsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2026Installation partner for the LICAT Srl photovoltaic project. Kennew managed the entire technical process: system design, roof construction, and 3SUN module installation, ensuring seamless integration with the existing structure and compliance with timelines.
• IBS ConsultingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 February 2026Consulting partner supporting the LICAT Srl project. IBS Consulting managed the permitting process and financial aspects, ensuring regulatory compliance and proper handling of financial aspects for the project's overall success.
• CEA / INES (French National Institute for Solar Energy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Over 10-year R&D partnership with CEA developing tandem perovskite-over-silicon photovoltaic cell technology. Joint development programme achieved certified efficiency record of 30.8% in January 2025 (9 cm² cell), up from 28.4% in January 2024 — a 2.4 point gain. CEA provides research infrastructure at INES campus. Partnership aims to overcome silicon's ~29% theoretical efficiency limit and bring tandem technology to mass production.
• Enel Group / Enel Green PowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 20233SUN is Enel Green Power's photovoltaic cell and module manufacturing subsidiary, under the management and coordination of Enel S.p.A. Enel provides strategic direction, capital, and integration with its renewable energy development pipeline. The Gigafactory expansion is a flagship Enel initiative for European energy transition. Stock capital managed under Enel Group direction.
• ATAMOSTEC (Atacama Module and System Technology Consortium)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership for long-term field trials of 3SUN bifacial HJT modules vs. PERC competitors in the Atacama Desert (2,400m elevation, Chile). Trial ran from June 2022 to December 2024, comparing modules on fixed-tilt and mono-axial horizontal trackers. ATAMOSTEC provides the test infrastructure and environmental conditions for technology validation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• JA Solar Technology: Chinese PV manufacturer with TOPCon-leading cell technology and global module shipments. Comparable as a high-efficiency, high-volume module producer; represents competitive Asian supply against which 3Sun's European-made premium plays.
• Canadian Solar: Canadian-headquartered (manufacturing in China/SE Asia) solar module and battery storage producer with utility-scale and C&I offerings. Comparable on project development, large-scale module manufacturing, and global commercial reach.
• JinkoSolar: Chinese module manufacturer that is one of the world's largest producers of TOPCon and HJT cells and modules. Comparable as a high-volume PV manufacturer competing in both utility-scale and C&I rooftop segments globally.
• Hanwha Qcells: South Korean-headquartered (now owned by Hanwha) solar manufacturer producing TOPCon modules and operating a growing US/EU manufacturing footprint. Comparable as a vertically integrated PV manufacturer expanding Western production capacity amid policy support.
• LONGi Green Energy Technology: Chinese solar giant with leading positions in HPBC, TOPCon, and HJT cell/module manufacturing at very large scale. Comparable on PV technology breadth and global module scale; represents the Asian benchmark 3Sun competes against on cost.
• Trina Solar: Chinese module manufacturer producing TOPCon and HJT cells/modules at multi-gigawatt scale with global distribution. Comparable as a vertically integrated PV manufacturer serving utility-scale and distributed generation markets.

Direct peers

• REC Group: Norway-headquartered solar module manufacturer focused on HJT technology (REC Alpha series), with premium positioning and bifacial HJT modules similar to 3Sun's CORE-H platform. Both serve utility-scale and C&I rooftops with high-efficiency European-made modules.
• Meyer Burger Technology: Swiss-headquartered HJT and TOPCon module manufacturer with European cell/module production (Germany/Switzerland). Directly comparable as a European premium PV manufacturer competing against Asian incumbents on efficiency and sustainability credentials.

Emerging players

• Talesun (Suzhou Axotech): Chinese module manufacturer focused on HJT and TOPCon technologies with HYPERT product line. Comparable as a HJT-focused manufacturer serving utility-scale markets, representing one of several Asian HJT challengers to 3Sun's European platform.
• Maxeon Solar Technologies: Singapore-headquartered solar manufacturer (spun off from SunPower) specializing in IBC and shingled cell technologies for premium rooftop and utility markets. Comparable as a next-gen PV module supplier focused on high-efficiency differentiated cells.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/enel
• Facebook3sun.com/en
• X3sun.com/en
• LinkedIn3sun.com/en
• Instagram3sun.com/en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 3Sun