---
title: "FuturaSun vs Q-Cells - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare FuturaSun vs Q-Cells solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/futurasun-vs-q-cells"
---

# FuturaSun vs Q-Cells

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 36 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%.


## The two companies


| Attribute | FuturaSun | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | Italy | South Korea |
| Headquarters | Cittadella | Seoul |
| Founded | 2008 | 1999 |
| Employees | 10-50 | 2000+ |
| Annual capacity | 1 GW/year | 11.2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 |  | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: HQCL |
| Website | [https://www.futurasun.com](https://www.futurasun.com) | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) |

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...

Qcells is a renowned global provider of complete energy solutions, specializing in solar cells and modules, energy storage solutions, downstream project business, and energy retail. The company has a strong heritage dating back to its foundation in Germany and has become a leader in technology innovations. As an...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | FuturaSun | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 36 | 89 | +53 |
| Max Power | 720 W | 675 W | +45 W |
| Avg Power | 472 W | 468 W | +4 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | FuturaSun | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.18% | 23.20% | +0.02 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.59% | 21.21% | +0.38 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | FuturaSun | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.308%/°C | -0.325%/°C | +0.017 |
| Bifacial Share | 13 (36%) | 35 (39%) | +3 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 26.8 yrs | 27.0 yrs | +0.2 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

FuturaSun skews to higher efficiency: 6% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | FuturaSun | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 5 (13.9%) | 7 (7.9%) |
| 20-21% | 6 (16.7%) | 29 (32.6%) |
| 21-22% | 2 (5.6%) | 30 (33.7%) |
| 22-23% | 21 (58.3%) | 21 (23.6%) |
| 23%+ | 2 (5.6%) | 2 (2.2%) |


## Power distribution

Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)


| Power band | FuturaSun | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 4 (11.1%) | 20 (22.5%) |
| 400-499W | 23 (63.9%) | 41 (46.1%) |
| 500-599W | 6 (16.7%) | 11 (12.4%) |
| 700W+ | 3 (8.3%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 0 | 17 (19.1%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (50%)

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%)


| Technology | FuturaSun | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TOPCon | 18 (50.0%) | 8 (9.0%) |
| PERC | 16 (44.4%) | 38 (42.7%) |
| HJT | 2 (5.6%) | 0 |
| N-type | 0 | 23 (25.8%) |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |


## Top panels, FuturaSun


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [FU 720 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-720-mv) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [FU 710 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-710-mv) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [FU 700 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-700-mv) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [FU 590 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-590-mv) | 590 | 22.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [FU 585 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-585-mv) | 585 | 22.6 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [FU 580 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-580-mv) | 580 | 22.4 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [FU 575 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-575-mv) | 575 | 22.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [FU 570 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-570-mv) | 570 | 22.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [FU 565 MV](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-565-mv) | 565 | 21.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [FU 460 M](https://comparepv.com/panel/futurasun-fu-460-m) | 460 | 23.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Top panels, Q-Cells


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 675](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-675) | 675 | 21.7 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 670](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-670) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 665](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-665) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 660](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-660) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 655](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-655) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 650](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-650) | 650 | 20.9 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 645](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-645) | 645 | 23.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 640](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-640) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 635](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-635) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 630](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-630) | 630 | 22.6 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

FuturaSun is an Italian manufacturer founded in 2008 and headquartered in Cittadella, in the Padua province of northern Italy. It operates with a current module production capacity of around 500 MW per year and has commercial presence in more than 70 countries. The company has received EU Innovation Fund backing for a planned European factory targeting TOPCon and back-contact cell production, but it does not appear on the BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability list, which typically requires exceeding 1 GW of annual capacity. Q-Cells, now trading as Hanwha Qcells after its 2012 acquisition by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group, traces its origins to Germany in 1999 and has since grown to a reported global module capacity of roughly 12 GW per year. It holds a confirmed BloombergNEF Top Tier bankability rating and was named an S&P Global 2025 Tier 1 Cleantech Company, with domestic US manufacturing underway in Dalton, Georgia. In terms of institutional footprint and financier recognition, Q-Cells carries a substantially stronger position.

On the product side, FuturaSun's current flagship lines - particularly the Silk Nova series - are built on n-type TOPCon cells and target premium residential and light commercial rooftops across Europe. The company also develops aesthetic modules such as colored or all-black variants suited to architectural projects, and its Silk Rhino line emphasizes structural resilience for harsh climates. Q-Cells offers a broader portfolio spanning residential, commercial, and utility-scale segments. Its QTron series uses n-type cells with efficiency ratings confirmed up to around 23.7%, while the Q.PEAK DUO line remains a widely deployed PERC-based option at more accessible price points. Q-Cells' 25-year product warranty and established installer network in Europe, North America, and Asia give it broad applicability.

For most buyers in 2025, Q-Cells is the lower-risk default - its bankability credentials, scale of manufacturing, and geographic service coverage reduce both project financing and long-term warranty risk. FuturaSun is a credible alternative for European buyers who prioritize locally manufactured or architecturally differentiated modules, though its smaller scale means buyers should assess distributor depth and warranty backstop before committing to larger installations.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/04/10/futurasun-releases-390-w-silver-solar-panel/ \| FuturaSun releases 390 W silver solar panel \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/10/25/futurasuns-project-for-topcon-and-xbc-n-type-modules-passes-cineas-selection-for-innovation-fund/ \| FuturaSun TOPCon and xBC project passes EU Innovation Fund selection \| article

\- https://taiyangnews.info/technology/futurasun-colored-module-hybrid-inverter-intersolar \| FuturaSun aesthetic and robust panels at Intersolar Europe 2025 \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert review of Hanwha Q CELLS solar panels 2025 \| review

\- https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review/ \| Q CELLS solar panels complete review - EnergySage \| review

Sources:

\- \[FuturaSun releases 390 W silver solar panel\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/04/10/futurasun-releases-390-w-silver-solar-panel/)

\- \[FuturaSun TOPCon and xBC project - EU Innovation Fund\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/10/25/futurasuns-project-for-topcon-and-xbc-n-type-modules-passes-cineas-selection-for-innovation-fund/)

\- \[FuturaSun at Intersolar Europe 2025 - TaiyangNews\](https://taiyangnews.info/technology/futurasun-colored-module-hybrid-inverter-intersolar)

\- \[Hanwha Q CELLS Review 2025 - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review)

\- \[Q CELLS Complete Review - EnergySage\](https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review/)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [FuturaSun vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/futurasun-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-q-cells)
- [FuturaSun vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/futurasun-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-q-cells)
- [FuturaSun vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/futurasun-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-q-cells)


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Source: https://comparepv.com/futurasun-vs-q-cells

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.