FuturaSun, a frontrunner in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, announces the appointment of Gianluca Coletti as the Group’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), effective October 16th.
With over two decades of experience in academic and industrial Research and Development (R&D) in the field of photovoltaic energy, Gianluca Coletti is internationally recognized as a leading expert in innovative architectures for solar cell and module. His career has been marked by successful contributions to the solar industry, including managing large-scale R&D projects with practical industrial applications, translating research findings into real-world solutions, and addressing industrial challenges with comprehensive research programs.
Notably, Gianluca has earned acclaim for his extensive research in the realm of tandem cells and modules, spanning from fundamental research to commercial developments. His track record includes numerous international research projects, carried out in collaboration with industry-leading companies in the photovoltaic sector, renowned research institutions, and government agencies. His pioneering work on silicon defects and their impact on solar cell performance has left an indelible mark on the industry.
Gianluca began his career in PV research and development in the early 2000s, first at Eurosolare SpA (a subsidiary of ENI Group SpA) in Italy, then he moved in the Netherlands to work at ECN (Energy research Centre of the Netherlands). From 2018 onward, he has worked as a senior scientist and head of the Tandem Technology research program at TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research), a Solliance partner, based in the Netherlands. There, starting from 2020, he has taken on an additional role as senior business developer, specializing in Tandem technology and silicon cells & modules.
Gianluca is also Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
His academic background includes a Master’s degree in Physics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, a Ph.D. from the University of Utrecht, and an Executive Master’s in Technology and Innovation Management at the Bologna Business School.
For FuturaSun, the strategic decision to appoint one of the world’s leading experts in photovoltaic technology as the head of its technical department is based on the belief that, in this crucial moment of global energy transition, technological innovation will be the driving force for growth. The competition among major PV industry players will increasingly revolve around two critical fronts: the ability to meet accelerating market demands through enhanced production capacity, and the pursuit of scientific research on materials to improve yields and extend the operational life of photovoltaic modules.
FuturaSun has wholeheartedly embraced this challenge. The company is reaching a production capacity of 3 gigawatts (GW) in China and it is poised to complete its Gigafactory project in Italy, contributing to the creation of a solid European supply chain. Taking a strategic approach to vertical integration, FuturaSun has recently initiated construction on a state-of-the-art facility in China, set to produce an impressive 10 GW of cells at full capacity. On the research and development front, the company remains committed to pioneering high-efficiency solutions, achieving outstanding results in both n-Type technology based on passivating contacts and rear-contact technology, such as IBC. Furthermore, FuturaSun’s recent acquisition of Solertix, a Rome-based startup, has opened doors to cutting-edge research on Perovskite Solar Cells and their scalable industrial applications.
Gianluca Coletti, in his ability to bridge the gap between research and practical industrial solutions, will play a crucial role in solidifying FuturaSun’s position as a key player in the photovoltaic industry.
The CEO of FuturaSun, Alessandro Barin, warmly welcomes Gianluca, remarking, “We are thrilled to have Gianluca join our team. In his capacity as CTO, he will spearhead our technological strategy, leveraging his extensive knowledge and scientific approach to ensure that we continue to deliver pioneering solutions to a rapidly evolving market. This marks a decisive moment in our company’s growth, and Gianluca is unquestionably the ideal candidate to steer our technological innovation efforts and achieve the objectives outlined in our industrial roadmap. Our enduring motto, ‘anticipate tomorrow,’ remains a testament to the strategic direction that has always characterized our company.”
“Now, more than ever, we need to accelerate the energy transition.’’ Gianluca Coletti adds.
“Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to turn innovative research concepts into technological processes and scale. With over two decades of research experience, I couldn’t be more excited to participate in the industrial realization of next advancement in PV technology. I am excited to join our outstanding team at FuturaSun. Together, we will execute an ambitious industrial strategy, implementing innovative architecture for silicon PV cells and modules, along with cutting-edge tandem technologies.”
