Solar companies expanding into complementary technologies isn’t uncommon. Solar panel manufacturer Jinko recently dropped “Solar” from its name because it also builds battery energy storage systems (BESS). Inverter giant SolarEdge has also brought EV chargers and BESS under its umbrella.
Credit: Nextpower
Solar tracker companies are now expanding beyond single-axis systems, acquiring companies in other segments and developing new technologies at a proprietary level. The largest example of this simultaneous consolidation of intellectual properties and expansion of first-party tech is Nextpower, which updated its name from Nextracker to better describe its company portfolio.
Over the last four years, trackers have been experiencing a domestic manufacturing renaissance, with Nextpower opening and expanding seven factories with contract manufacturers, Array Technologies maintaining four plants across the country, OMCO Solar building a domestic tracker supply in four states and international supplier PV Hardware building its first plant in the United States.
The factory openings have slowed from waning subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act, but tracker manufacturers haven’t stopped growing. They’ve gotten involved with stationary racking — Nextpower acquired Ojjo and Array Technologies bought APA Solar Racking. Both Ojjo and APA produce solar foundations for deployment in less-than-ideal soil conditions.
Tracker companies have also expanded their scopes to include electrical balance of systems (eBOS) and other technologies necessary in tracker operations. Terrasmart manufactures combiner boxes and wiring solutions in its factory in Grand Rapids, Michigan. OMCO developed its proprietary OMCO Star Tracker Control System, a wireless, long-range tracker controller. With yet another acquisition, Nextpower entered the eBOS space by purchasing Bentek and its trunk bus, combiner box and harness technologies.
With their experience in steel and aluminum fabrication, tracker manufacturers have set their sights on module components. When OMCO opened its sixth factory in the United States, First Solar contracted the company to produce backrails for its Series 7 thin-film modules. Similarly, Nextpower acquired Origami Solar, a steel solar panel frame manufacturer. Nextpower could produce steel frames for a range of solar panel brands.
Nextpower’s portfolio of solar components is increasingly considering more of the array than just the tracker itself. And that extends to post-installation upkeep as well, with the acquisition of robotics company OnSight Technology and the subsequent launch of an O&M division.
“Over the past several years, we have been systematically executing a strategy to expand our portfolio and create a comprehensive technology platform that delivers significant benefits across the solar value chain,” said Dan Shugar, CEO of Nextpower, in a press release.
This mission among solar tracker manufacturers to expand products and services beyond the expected has transformed some of them from specific equipment suppliers to holistic energy platforms. The shape of domestic solar tracker manufacturing and the companies making them will likely continue to change.
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