Nextracker and University of California Berkeley Engineering Partner to Establish the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research
Nextracker (NXT) and UC Berkeley Engineering have announced a strategic partnership to establish the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research, supported by Nextracker's $6.5 million contribution. The center aims to advance solar power plant technology and develop engineering leaders for future energy needs.
The initiative will include a leading-edge research program and a planned state-of-the-art solar test field. The center will focus on enhancing power plant performance and operations, while integrating cutting-edge solar technologies into UC Berkeley's engineering and environmental science programs. Students will benefit from hands-on learning experiences, access to industry tools, and Nextracker's internship and mentoring programs.
The center was established through collaboration between Tarek Zohdi (associate dean for research at UC Berkeley Engineering and CALNEXT director), Francesco Borrelli (professor of mechanical engineering and co-director), and Alex Au (Nextracker's co-founder and CTO).
Nextracker (NXT) e l'Ingegneria UC Berkeley hanno annunciato una partnership strategica per istituire il CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research, sostenuto da un contributo di 6,5 milioni di dollari da parte di Nextracker. Il centro ha l'obiettivo di avanzare la tecnologia degli impianti solari e formare leader ingegneristici per le esigenze energetiche future.
L'iniziativa includerà un programma di ricerca all'avanguardia e un campo di prova solare all'avanguardia pianificato. Il centro si concentrerà sul miglioramento delle prestazioni e delle operazioni degli impianti, integrando tecnologie solari all'avanguardia nei programmi di ingegneria e scienze ambientali dell'UC Berkeley. Gli studenti beneficeranno di esperienze di apprendimento pratico, accesso a strumenti industriali e ai programmi di tirocinio e mentoring di Nextracker.
Il centro è stato istituito grazie alla collaborazione tra Tarek Zohdi (decanato associato per la ricerca presso l'Ingegneria UC Berkeley e direttore di CALNEXT), Francesco Borrelli (professore di ingegneria meccanica e co-direttore) e Alex Au (co-fondatore e CTO di Nextracker).
Nextracker (NXT) y la Escuela de Ingeniería de UC Berkeley han anunciado una asociación estratégica para establecer el CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research, respaldada por una contribución de 6.5 millones de dólares de Nextracker. El centro tiene como objetivo avanzar en la tecnología de plantas solares y desarrollar líderes en ingeniería para las necesidades energéticas futuras.
La iniciativa incluirá un programa de investigación de vanguardia y un campo de prueba solar de última generación planificado. El centro se enfocará en mejorar el rendimiento y las operaciones de las plantas, mientras integra tecnologías solares de vanguardia en los programas de ingeniería y ciencias ambientales de UC Berkeley. Los estudiantes se beneficiarán de experiencias de aprendizaje práctico, acceso a herramientas de la industria y a los programas de pasantías y mentoría de Nextracker.
El centro se estableció gracias a la colaboración entre Tarek Zohdi (decano asociado de investigación en UC Berkeley Engineering y director de CALNEXT), Francesco Borrelli (profesor de ingeniería mecánica y co-director) y Alex Au (cofundador y CTO de Nextracker).
Nextracker (NXT)와 UC 버클리 공대가 전략적 파트너십을 체결하여 CALNEXT 태양 에너지 연구 센터를 설립한다고 발표했습니다. Nextracker의 650만 달러 지원을 받은 이 센터는 태양광 발전소 기술을 발전시키고 미래 에너지 수요를 위한 엔지니어링 리더를 양성하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
이 이니셔티브에는 최첨단 연구 프로그램과 계획된 최신형 태양광 테스트 필드가 포함됩니다. 센터는 발전소 성능과 운영 개선에 중점을 두고, UC 버클리의 공학 및 환경 과학 프로그램에 최첨단 태양광 기술을 통합할 것입니다. 학생들은 실습 경험, 산업 도구에 대한 접근, Nextracker의 인턴십 및 멘토링 프로그램의 혜택을 누리게 됩니다.
센터는 UC 버클리 공대의 연구 부학장인 Tarek Zohdi, 기계 공학 교수인 Francesco Borrelli (교수 공동 책임자), Nextracker의 공동 창립자이자 CTO인 Alex Au의 협력을 통해 설립되었습니다.
Nextracker (NXT) et l'ingénierie de l'UC Berkeley ont annoncé un partenariat stratégique pour établir le CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research, soutenu par une contribution de 6,5 millions de dollars de Nextracker. Le centre vise à faire avancer la technologie des centrales solaires et à former des leaders en ingénierie pour les besoins énergétiques futurs.
L'initiative comprendra un programme de recherche de pointe et un champ d'essai solaire de dernière génération prévu. Le centre se concentrera sur l'amélioration des performances et des opérations des centrales, tout en intégrant des technologies solaires de pointe dans les programmes d'ingénierie et de sciences de l'environnement de l'UC Berkeley. Les étudiants bénéficieront d'expériences d'apprentissage pratique, d'un accès aux outils de l'industrie et des programmes de stages et de mentorat de Nextracker.
Le centre a été créé grâce à la collaboration entre Tarek Zohdi (doyen associé de la recherche à l'ingénierie de l'UC Berkeley et directeur de CALNEXT), Francesco Borrelli (professeur de génie mécanique et co-directeur) et Alex Au (co-fondateur et CTO de Nextracker).
Nextracker (NXT) und die UC Berkeley Engineering haben eine strategische Partnerschaft angekündigt, um das CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research zu gründen, das durch Nextrackers Beitrag von 6,5 Millionen Dollar unterstützt wird. Das Center hat das Ziel, die Technologie von Solarstromanlagen voranzutreiben und Ingenieure für zukünftige Energiebedürfnisse auszubilden.
Die Initiative umfasst ein fortschrittliches Forschungsprogramm und ein geplantes modernes Solar-Testfeld. Das Center wird sich auf die Verbesserung der Leistung und des Betriebs von Anlagen konzentrieren und gleichzeitig modernste solartechnologische Ansätze in die Ingenieur- und Umweltwissenschaftsprogramme der UC Berkeley integrieren. Die Studierenden profitieren von praktischen Lernerfahrungen, Zugang zu Industriewerkzeugen und Nextrackers Praktikums- und Mentoring-Programmen.
Das Zentrum wurde durch die Zusammenarbeit von Tarek Zohdi (assoziierter Dekan für Forschung an der UC Berkeley Engineering und Direktor von CALNEXT), Francesco Borrelli (Professor für Maschinenbau und Mitdirektor) und Alex Au (Mitbegründer und CTO von Nextracker) gegründet.
- Strategic partnership with prestigious UC Berkeley Engineering enhances company's research capabilities
- $6.5 million investment demonstrates commitment to R&D and technology advancement
- Access to top engineering talent pipeline through internship and mentoring programs
- None.
Insights
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The research center's focus on enhancing power plant performance and operations aligns with industry trends toward optimizing utility-scale solar efficiency. However, any technological breakthroughs or operational improvements would likely take years to materialize and commercialize. The initiative primarily serves as a long-term investment in human capital and R&D infrastructure rather than an immediate value driver for the company.
From an investor's perspective, this development should be viewed as a standard industry-academia collaboration that may strengthen Nextracker's competitive position in talent acquisition and technology development over the long term, but does not warrant a significant revaluation of the company's near-term prospects.
New research center to advance solar power plant technology and develop engineering leaders to support future energy needs
Nextracker applications engineer instructing local SF Bay Area college students. (Photo: Nextracker)
The CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research is dedicated to advancing solar energy technology by leveraging UC Berkeley’s renowned academic expertise and cutting-edge research facilities. The center’s efforts will prioritize technologies to enhance power plant performance and operations, paving the way for rapid expansion of utility-scale solar. This initiative aims to further solidify solar energy as a clean, cost-effective and quickly deployable solution to meet the nation’s increasing demand for sustainable power.
The center also plans to integrate cutting-edge 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.
“We are thrilled to partner with UC Berkeley to inaugurate the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research,” said Alex Au, co-founder and CTO Nextracker, who will oversee CALNEXT operations and initiatives on behalf of Nextracker. “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.”
“By fostering collaboration between academia and industry, we aim to drive significant advancements in solar power technologies,” said Tarek Zohdi, associate dean for research, UC Berkeley Engineering, and director of the CALNEXT center. “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.”
In addition, 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.
“This center will not only accelerate innovation but also develop the next generation of engineers and researchers at the forefront of the global solar energy revolution,” said Francesco Borrelli, professor of mechanical engineering and co-director of the CALNEXT Center.
The CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research was realized through the shared vision of collaborators Tarek Zohdi, Francisco Borrelli, and Alex Au. Together, they are committed to advancing sustainable, large-scale energy solutions and fostering future leaders in solar technology.
For more information about CALNEXT, please contact media@nextracker.com.
About Nextracker
Nextracker is a leading provider of intelligent, integrated solar tracker, foundations, and software solutions used in ground-mounted utility-scale and distributed generation solar projects around the world. Our products enable solar PV power plants to follow the sun’s movement across the sky and optimize plant performance. With power plants operating in more than forty countries worldwide, Nextracker offers solar tracker technologies that increase energy production while reducing costs for significant plant ROI. For more information, please visit Nextracker.com.
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Media Contacts
Brandy Lee
Nextracker
+1.408.930.6186
blee@nextracker.com
Sarah Yang
UC Berkeley Engineering
scyang@berkeley.edu
Source: Nextracker
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