{{Short description|Energy company in Italy}} {{Use British English|date=April 2023}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox company | name =3Sun | logo = | logo_caption = | logo_upright = | logo_alt = | type = | industry = Energy | predecessor = | founded = January 4, 2010<ref name="1-8-enelgreenpower.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.enelgreenpower.com/who-we-are/innovation/3SUN-factory|title=3Sun Gigafactory }}</ref> | defunct = | fate = | successor = | hq_location = | hq_location_city = Catania<ref name="1-8-enelgreenpower.com-cit"/> | hq_location_country = Italy | area_served = | products = Photovoltaic panels | num_employees =220 | num_employees_year = 2022 | parent = | website = [https://www.3sun.com/ 3sun.com] }}
'''3Sun''' is a photovoltaic panel factory established in 2010 in Catania, Italy. In 2015, Enel Green Power became the company's sole shareholder.<ref name="2-76-photon.info-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.photon.info/en/news/enel-green-power-acquires-100-italian-thin-film-module-factory|title=Enel Green Power acquires 100% of Italian thin-film module factory }}</ref> 3Sun was established as a joint venture by Enel Green Power, Sharp Corporation, and STMicroelectronics, each owning 33% of 3Sun.<ref name="3-41-eepower.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://eepower.com/news/sharp-enel-stmicro-announce-joint-venture-for-thin-film-solar-cells-independent-photovoltaic-power-generation-business/#|title=Sharp, Enel, & STMicro Announce Joint Venture for Thin-Film Solar Cells & Independent Photovoltaic Power Generation Business - News}}</ref><ref name="1-49-fdiintelligence.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.fdiintelligence.com/content/feature/enel-to-build-europes-biggest-solar-pv-factory-in-sicily-81951|title=Enel to build Europe’s biggest solar PV factory in Sicily }}</ref> Between 2011 and 2014, 3Sun built a photovoltaic cell and module plant in Catania that employed thin-layer technology. <ref name="5-71-evwind.es-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.evwind.es/2022/09/06/the-3sun-gigafactory-a-decade-of-progress-in-solar-technologies/87717|title=The 3Sun Gigafactory: a decade of progress in solar technologies}}</ref> Sharp contributes the amorphous silicon multi-junction thin-film technology, Enel Green Power manages the commercial distribution, and STMicroelectronics provides personnel specialized in processes and research and development.<ref name="6-72-st.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.st.com/content/st_com/en/about/media-center/press-item.html/italy-s-largest-photovoltaic-panel-plant-opens-its-doors.html|title=Italy's largest photovoltaic panel plant opens its doors}}</ref> On March 6, 2015, Enel Green Power has been the sole owner of 3Sun.<ref name="2-76-photon.info-cit"/><ref name="7-2-thenewsdept.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://thenewsdept.com/economy/155629.html|title=Photovoltaics: 1,000 new jobs at 3Sun (Enel) in Catania, the EU's first factory (quoted by von der Leyen) }}</ref>
In August 2018, the manufacturing of Heterojunction Technology (HJT) bifacial panels began, making 3Sun the world's most automated plant in the sector, with the ability to operate continuously. The first HJT cells were produced in February 2019 and mass production began in August 2019.<ref name="2-77-cea.fr-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.cea.fr/cea-tech/liten/english/Pages/Medias/News/PV-High-Efficiency/ENEL-Green-power-3SUN-Gigafactory.aspx|title=Liten - ENEL Green power's 3SUN Gigafactory for heterojunction photovoltaic cells and modules in Europe}}</ref><ref name="3-8-enea.it-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.enea.it/it/seguici/pubblicazioni/opuscoli/flyer/ampere|title=in Europe at 3SUN fab in Catania-Italy a new fully automated 100MWp production line of photovoltaic cells and modules based on silicon heterojunction technology}}</ref><ref name="8-94-photon.info-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.photon.info/en/news/enel-starts-production-bifacial-photovoltaic-panels-3sun-factory-catania|title=Enel starts production of bifacial photovoltaic panels at 3Sun factory in Catania }}</ref><ref name="9-100-engineeringnews.co.za-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/enel-starts-conversion-to-new-pv-panel-manufacturing-technology-at-italy-factory-2018-03-19|title=Enel starts conversion to new PV panel manufacturing technology at Italy factory}}</ref><ref name="10-65-climate.ec.europa.eu-cit">{{cite web|url=https://climate.ec.europa.eu/news-your-voice/news/tango-story-towards-largest-solar-factory-europe-2022-07-11_en|title=The TANGO story: Towards the largest solar factory in Europe}}</ref>
In April 2022, Enel Green Power signed a grant agreement with the European Commission for subsidized financing, as part of the EU's first Innovation Fund call for large-scale projects, contributing to the development of the TANGO (iTaliAN pv Giga factOry) project.<ref name="4-6-ec.europa.eu-cit">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_1361|title=Press corner }}</ref><ref name="5-44-ec.europa.eu-cit">{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/it/IP_23_1361|title=Press corner }}</ref> This involves the construction of an industrial-scale production facility for the manufacturing of innovative, sustainable and high-performance photovoltaic (PV) modules at the 3Sun solar panel factory in Catania.<ref name="6-55-forbes.it-cit">{{cite web|url=https://forbes.it/2023/02/06/enel-svela-la-gigafactory-di-catania-come-sara-la-piu-grande-fabbrica-di-pannelli-solari-deuropa/|title=Enel a Catania: nasce la più grande fabbrica di pannelli solari}}</ref><ref name="11-61-pv-tech.org-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.pv-tech.org/enel-signs-grant-agreement-with-eu-for-3gw-bifacial-pv-module-facility-in-italy/|title=Enel signs grant agreement with EU for 3GW bifacial PV module facility in Italy - PV Tech|date=April 2022 }}</ref><ref name="7-28-reuters.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/enel-entered-into-exclusive-talks-sell-stake-3sun-solar-plant-2023-02-06/|title=Enel in exclusive talks to sell stake in solar gigafactory }}</ref><ref name="8-68-elisa.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://elisa.com/corporate/news-room/press-releases/enel-green-power%E2%80%99s-3sun-gigafactory-in-sicily-supported-by-camline,-sedapta-and-elisa-industriq/52440207474953/|title=Elisa - News Room}}</ref><ref name="12-26-innovationorigins.com-cit">{{cite web|url=https://innovationorigins.com/en/laio/enel-3sun-to-become-europes-largest-solar-panels-factory/|title=Enel 3Sun to become Europe's largest solar panels factory - Innovation Origins}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Energy|Companies|Italy}} * Renewable energy in the European Union * Energy policy of the European Union * Energy in Italy
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.3sun.com/}}
Category:Renewable energy companies of Italy Category:Enel Category:Energy companies established in 2010 Category:Renewable resource companies established in 2010 Category:Italian companies established in 2010 Category:Companies based in Catania