Next powerformerly Nextracker, is expanding its operations in the Southeast with a new remote monitoring center in Nashville, Tennessee, and increasing its U.S. steelmaking capacity in the region. The addition of a new production line, operated by Memphis-based MSS Steel Tubes USA, will double Nextpower’s production capacity with the contract manufacturer for solar tracking systems used in the Southeast. The existing steel production line at the plant currently supports 120 U.S. jobs, with an additional 150 expected as the new line grows.
“The Southeast has entered a new era of energy infrastructure,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextpower. “This new U.S. production line with our partner MSS not only doubles the production capacity of our Memphis facility for solar trackers, but also helps our customers scale projects faster, create new American jobs and strengthen our supply chain. Silicon Ranch pioneered utility-scale solar in the Southeast and continues to lead the way in delivering high-quality projects that meet the region’s increasing demand for electricity. Nextpower is proud to have supported them for more than a decade, and together we are the driving force behind what’s next.”
According to the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, the Southeast alone added 5 GW of solar power in 2024, bringing its total capacity to nearly 28 GW, and is on track to nearly double that total to 54 GW by 2030. With this new remote monitoring center, Nextpower will remotely connect engineers to solar tracker projects worldwide.
“Nextpower’s expansion is a powerful example of the innovation and economic momentum happening across Tennessee,” said Josh Brown, president and CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “This investment will support new jobs, deepen our state’s manufacturing capabilities and position Tennessee to remain a national leader as demand for clean energy and advanced infrastructure accelerates. We are proud to support partners like Nextpower, MSS Steel Tubes and Silicon Ranch as they position Tennessee at the center of America’s clean energy growth.”
In November, Nextracker was rebranded as Nextpower to better reflect the company’s extensive product lines, which in addition to single-axis solar trackers, also include frames for solar panels, robotics, O&M and electrical balancing of systems.
News item from Nextpower (formerly Nextracker)
