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FuturaSun vs AIKO - solar panel manufacturer comparison

FuturaSun
Italy Founded 2008
Read the FuturaSun review
VS
AIKO
China Founded 2009 Tier 1
Read the AIKO review
At a glance

AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 36 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. FuturaSun leans bifacial (36% of lineup).

Both catalogues are read from the manufacturers' own datasheets. A brand is not scored against the market here, only against the other brand on this page.

Panel models
36 144
Highest power
720 Wp 805 Wp
Best efficiency
23.2% 25.2%
Average efficiency
21.6% 23.7%
Bifacial share
36% 24%
Average warranty
27 yrs 30 yrs
01

The two companies

Company facts, not datasheet figures
FuturaSun

FuturaSun is an Italian manufacturer of high-performance photovoltaic modules, founded in 2008 in Veneto, the heart of Italy's PV industry. The company distributes solar panels in more than 70 countries and operates production facilities in Taizhou, Asia, with a capacity of around 1 GW/year. FuturaSun is a privately...

Founded
2008
Headquarters
Cittadella, Italy
Annual capacity
1 GW/year
Employees
10-50
AIKO
Founded
2009
Headquarters
Shanghai, China
Tier 1 bankable
Yes
02

Catalogue against catalogue

Averages over every model in the database
Metric FuturaSun AIKO
Catalog & Power
Panel Models 36 144+108
Max Power 720 W 805 W+85 W
Avg Power 472 W 581 W+109 W
Efficiency
Max Efficiency 23.18% 25.20%+2.02 pp
Avg Efficiency 21.59% 23.65%+2.06 pp
Reliability & Warranty
Avg Temp Coefficient -0.308%/°C -0.271%/°C+0.038
Bifacial Share 13 (36%)+12 pp 35 (24%)
Avg Warranty 26.8 yrs 29.5 yrs+2.7 yr

An average over a catalogue describes the range a manufacturer publishes, not the module you would buy. A brand with two flagship panels and eighty older ones averages worse than one that has retired its back catalogue.

03

What each of them builds

Cell technology across the market
Efficiency spread
Share of each catalogue in every efficiency band

AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+

Power spread
Share of each catalogue in every power band

AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)

FuturaSun cell technology
Share of their models by cell architecture

Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (50%)

AIKO cell technology
Share of their models by cell architecture

Dominant cell tech: <strong>Back Contact</strong> (83%)

04

The flagships

Highest-power models from each brand
05

Written summary

Checking cache...

AIKO is a Chinese solar manufacturer that has grown rapidly since its founding in 2009, positioning itself at the premium end of the global module market. The company achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability status in Q3 2024 and has built out an annual production capacity reported at around 20 GW, making it one of the larger vertically integrated players in the n-type segment. FuturaSun, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Cittadella in northern Italy's Veneto region, operates at a significantly smaller scale - around 1 GW per year - with its own factory in China and a European distribution network spanning Rotterdam, Antwerp, and multiple sales offices across the continent. No BloombergNEF Tier 1 designation for FuturaSun was found in current sources. In terms of institutional footprint and bankability for large financed projects, AIKO holds the clear advantage.

The two brands pursue notably different technical and commercial strategies. AIKO has built its identity around its proprietary ABC (All Back Contact) cell architecture, which relocates all electrical contacts to the rear of the cell, maximizing light capture and pushing module efficiency above 24% in its Gen 3 product line. The company targets premium residential rooftops and commercial-and-industrial projects where high power density and limited roof space justify a price premium. FuturaSun's confirmed product range centers on TOPCon n-type cells, with recent launches including a 580 W large-format panel and a 390 W aesthetically oriented "Silver" module aimed at modern residential architecture - signaling a dual focus on mainstream utility-adjacent installs and design-conscious European rooftop buyers.

For a typical buyer in 2025, the right choice depends on priorities. AIKO suits installers and developers who want maximum watts per square meter backed by strong bankability credentials and an aggressive warranty structure. FuturaSun is the more sensible pick for European residential projects where panel aesthetics, local supply-chain proximity, and moderate scale matter more than cutting-edge efficiency records. The two brands are not interchangeable - they serve adjacent but distinct segments of the market.

Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-07

06

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Something missing from a catalogue? Both lists are built from the datasheets in the database. If a model is absent, it has not been ingested yet.

Shop prices: See 7 FuturaSun offers · See 171 AIKO offers

Comparisons are computed from manufacturer datasheets held in the ComparePV database and may not reflect a brand's complete current lineup. Nothing on this page is paid placement.