Impact Stories
Nextracker
About this company
Nextracker's goal is to transition the world to affordable, renewable power by developing the best performing and resilient solar tracking technologies and software in the market.
The company is widely recognised for significant innovations and for leading the market in solar tracker development, allowing solar panels to follow the sun across the sky. Their portfolio includes over 300 mechanical, electrical and software driven patents and they have customers in more than 40 countries. In 2024, Nextracker became the first US solar company to ship 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar tracker systems worldwide - enough equipment to support clean energy for tens of millions of homes, all used in large-scale solar farms around the globe (1).
Why Pathfinder invested
Sometimes it’s the unseen innovation that makes a great impact. In this case, we're not investing in the solar farm itself, but in the enabling technology (hidden away) that powers and optimises the farms performance.
We thought Nextracker stood out among clean energy peers for their specialised focus on maximising solar efficiency, whereas others often span broader renewables or manufacturing. This has allowed them to develop a suite of innovative products that increase solar farm efficiency and, in turn, their environmental impact globally.
Nextracker's performance and projects to date demonstrate that it has a proven business with strong demand and the scale to keep growing. By supplying technology that complements solar projects, Nextracker can keep delivering results even when solar regulations or subsidies change. It’s a company with both strong financial fundamentals and a positive impact on the planet.
The company aligns with our positive investing themes as it operates in a sector related to energy efficiency - focusing on technologies that promote lower energy consumption and greater efficiency. This directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7: affordable and clean energy.
What positive impact this company is making
Increased renewable energy & efficiency: Nextracker’s technology increases the efficiency of solar installations by 15–30% over fixed-tilt systems. This means greater land-use efficiency in solar projects and enhanced return on renewable investment - encouraging further adoption and lower costs from solar, boosting long-term energy equity.
The company demonstrates innovation through a portfolio of different products that range from minimising the environmental impact of a farm, to mitigating extreme weather damage, increasing energy output with the same materials, reducing carbon using sustainable materials and supply chains, and supporting the integration of solar energy with regenerative farming (2). For instance, their Low Carbon Tracker™ is verified to have a 35% reduced carbon footprint compared to alternatives and its whole life-cycle assessment analysis includes benefits such as improvements to land use, water consumption and other metrics associated with manufacturing, delivery, and the operation of solar trackers.
People and Culture: Nextracker maintain solid corporate governance, ethical labour practices, and transparent ESG disclosures. Their “Half the Sun” global program provides mentorship, scholarships and encourages more women to join the solar workforce.