Nextrackera global supplier of solar trackers, has shipped and delivered the industry’s first U.S.-made solar trackers that are expected to achieve 100% domestic solar tracker content value under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), according to a press statement. These trackers will be used in the SB Energy’s Pelican’s Jaw Projecta 570 MW solar project and a 954 MWh storage project currently under construction SOLV Energy in Kern County, California.
Credit: Nextracker
“Delivering the industry’s first trackers with 100% domestic content value is a huge milestone for our customers, our delivery partners and Nextracker,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextracker. “It demonstrates our ability to scale and scale operations that directly benefit our customers, and sets a new standard for local supply chain resilience and operational excellence. By systematically concentrating our manufacturing partnerships close to our customers’ project locations, we secure the supply chain and ensure superior on-time delivery and cost savings for project development and construction. We also significantly decarbonize our products by using clean steel made in the United States.”
Nextracker began investing in local manufacturing infrastructure in 2021 to establish a secure supply chain that would reduce product lead times following disruptions during the global pandemic. Together with its manufacturing partners, the company has now expanded or opened more than 25 U.S. plants with an annual capacity of more than 30 GW.
“SB Energy is proud to drive the growth of domestic renewable energy production through our projects,” said Abhijeet Sathe, co-CEO of SB Energy. “Our Pelican’s Jaw project will be the first to leverage Nextracker’s 100% U.S. solar trackers for domestic content. We applaud Nextracker for their leadership in creating a robust U.S. supply chain to support our projects with greater security of supply and create good-paying, domestic manufacturing jobs.”
According to the International Energy Agency, solar energy has become the leading source of new energy generation and creates high-paying jobs both in the United States and worldwide. The American Clean Power Association reports that the U.S. solar industry will support 279,000 jobs as of 2023, driving significant economic growth in states such as Arizona, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.
“I attended Nextracker factory dedications in Texas, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, where American workers are building high-performance solar products that will help power renewable energy projects across the country,” said George Hershman, CEO of SOLV Energy.
News item from Nextracker