UC Berkeley Engineering and Nextracker Inc. are partnering to launch the CAL-NEXT Center for Solar Energy Research, with the goal of developing sustainable, next-generation solar power plant technologies to meet rising global energy demand.

The new center aims to accelerate innovation in solar energy technologies by leveraging UC Berkeley’s world-class research facilities and academic expertise. Research efforts will focus on digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, solar tracker technology, agrivoltaics and system-level energy management.

The center also will work with faculty to integrate cutting-edge solar technology concepts into UC Berkeley’s engineering and environmental science curricula, providing students with hands-on learning experiences and access to industry-leading tools and real-world applications.

Press releases:

• https://engineering.berkeley.edu/news/2025/01/new-research-center-to-develop-innovative-solar-power-plant-technologies/
• https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250115381034/en/Nextracker-and-University-of-California-Berkeley-Engineering-Partner-to-Establish-the-CALNEXT-Center-for-Solar-Energy-Research