Nextracker and the University of California Berkeley Engineering (UC Berkeley) formed a partnership aimed at advancing solar power plant technology to meet rising global energy demand. The collaboration will establish the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research that will drive a research program and a planned state-of-the-art solar test field. 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.
Credit: Nextracker
The CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research is dedicated to advancing solar energy technology by leveraging UC Berkeley’s academic expertise and research facilities. The center’s efforts will prioritize technologies to enhance power plant performance and operations, with the hopes of increasing the expansion of utility-scale solar.
“We are thrilled to partner with UC Berkeley to inaugurate the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research,” said Alex Au, co-founder and CTO of 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.”
The center also plans to integrate solar technologies into UC Berkeley’s engineering and environmental science programs and curricula, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and access to industry tools and real-world applications.
“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.
“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.
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