The world needs more energy. A prominent American-made solar tracker company and an esteemed academic institution are teaming up to meet the moment.
Nextracker and the University of California Berkeley Engineering (UC Berkeley) have unveiled a strategic partnership aimed at advancing solar power plant technology by establishing the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research. The center aims to advance solar tech by leveraging UC Berkeley’s renowned academic expertise and cutting-edge research facilities, prioritizing technologies to enhance power plant performance and operations to pave the way for rapid expansion of utility-scale solar.
The CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research will feature a leading-edge research program and will be home to a planned state-of-the-art solar test field. It also intends to integrate new solar technologies into UC Berkeley’s engineering and environmental science programs and curricula, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and access to industry-leading tools and real-world applications. UC Berkeley Engineering students will be able to tap into Nextracker’s established internship and mentoring programs and employment opportunities, fueling the workforce pipeline with skilled, industry-ready graduates.
Nextracker has contributed a $6.5 million gift to support the initiative, which is already soliciting and receiving research proposals from UC Berkeley Engineering faculty and graduate students.
“We are thrilled to partner with UC Berkeley to inaugurate the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research,” said co-founder and CTO of Nextracker Alex Au, who will oversee CALNEXT operations and initiatives on behalf of his company. “Through our partnership with UC Berkeley Engineering, we are creating a powerful platform to continue to push the boundaries of solar technology, ensuring clean and affordable energy generation is available to all.”
“Nextracker shares UC Berkeley’s ethos of education, discovery, and innovation, and this center will provide our faculty and students with a world-class research experience,” added Tarek Zohdi, associate dean for research, UC Berkeley Engineering, and director of the CALNEXT center. “By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, we aim to drive significant advancements in solar power technologies.”
The CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research was realized through the shared vision of collaborators Tarek Zohdi, Francisco Borrelli, and Alex Au, who say they are committed to advancing sustainable, large-scale energy solutions and fostering future leaders in solar technology.
Last month, Nextracker delivered what it calls the industry’s first U.S.-manufactured solar trackers expected to achieve 100% domestic content value under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The first batch supplied SB Energy’s Pelican’s Jaw project, a 570 MW solar and 954 MWh storage endeavor currently under construction by SOLV Energy in Kern County, California.
Nextracker began investing in local manufacturing infrastructure in 2021 to establish a secure supply chain following disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with its manufacturing partners, the company has now expanded or opened more than 25 U.S. factories with over 30 GW of annual capacity.
The company’s CEO Dan Shugar was a keynote speaker at the interconnection event GridTECH Connect Forum (now branded under DTECH Events) in Newport Beach, CA last year. He implored utilities to embrace established technologies that can help alleviate interconnection queues and unlock additional grid capacity, like grid-enhancing technologies, to expedite the deployment of clean energy resources including solar, wind, and battery storage. In 2023, Shugar appeared on the Factor This! podcast, where he discussed his journey from an engineer in the solar group at Pacific Gas & Electric in the late 1980s to leading PowerLight to a $335 million acquisition by SunPower.
