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 demands. The collaboration will establish the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research, which 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 focuses on advancing solar energy technology by leveraging UC Berkeley’s academic expertise and research facilities. The center’s efforts will prioritize technologies to improve power plant performance and operations, with the hope of increasing the expansion of utility-scale solar energy.
“We are excited to partner with UC Berkeley to dedicate the CALNEXT Center for Solar Energy Research,” said Alex Au, co-founder and CTO of Nextracker, who will oversee CALNEXT activities 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 and ensure clean and affordable energy generation is available to everyone.”
The center also plans to integrate solar energy 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 make significant progress in solar energy 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 can take advantage of Nextracker’s established internship and mentorship 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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