“This is what energy security looks like”, Nextracker opens fourth US steel manufacturing plant

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
A line worker at the Nextracker dedicated MSS Steel Tubes Factory, Memphis. Image: Nextracker.

US PV tracker supplier Nextracker has commissioned a new factory to produce steel components for its tracker systems. The facility was opened in partnership with MSS Steel Tubes USA, a joint venture subsidiary between Portuguese Metalogalva Group and Soufer Group of Brazil.

The facility is in Memphis, Tennessee and will produce low-carbon steel torque tubes for Nextracker’s contracted projects across the Southeast. Torque tubes are used to rotate PV modules as part of the tracking system to maximise efficiency and light absorption.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Nextracker also announced a further 3GW supply deal with US independent power producer (IPP) Silicon Ranch, which is a significant market player in the Southeast region. The opening ceremony for the facility yesterday included Silicon Ranch as the dedicated partner for the facility.

The companies already have supply agreements in place, with a 1.5GW deal signed in May last year to run through 2024.

Onshoring its supply to the US has been a key driver in Nextracker’s activities over recent years. It opened another steel factory in Pittsburgh last Summer to serve projects in the Northeast, following two more facilities in Texas and Arizona.

“This is what energy security looks like: New US manufacturing jobs using American-made steel to produce affordable clean energy,” said Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextracker. “Customers want domestic, low-carbon technologies like solar power. We are excited to inaugurate a new dedicated Nextracker manufacturing line in Memphis with MSS Steel Tubes USA, and to continue to team with Silicon Ranch with a new 3 GW multi-year agreement to provide the Tennessee Valley and greater Southeast with our high performing systems.”

Nextracker more than doubled its adjusted EBITDA in the last financial year, in its first earnings call since filing an initial public offering (IPO) in January. March this year saw the company sign another long-term US supply deal with Strata Clean Energy for 810MW worth of its projects in Texas, Arizona and Virginia.

Meanwhile, Silicon Ranch is growing its presence as one of the major PV developers in the US. In Q1 the company received more VC funding than any other solar PV company in the world and it has a number of significant, long-term US supply deals in place, most notably with First Solar for over 6GW of thin film module supply.

21 May 2024
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 21-22 May 2024, will be our third PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2025 and beyond.
8 October 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 8-9 October 2024 is our second PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The event in 2023 was a sell out success and 2024 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
26 November 2024
Málaga, Spain
Understanding PV module supply to the European market in 2025. PV ModuleTech Europe 2024 is a two-day conference that tackles these challenges directly, with an agenda that addresses all aspects of module supplier selection; product availability, technology offerings, traceability of supply-chain, factory auditing, module testing and reliability, and company bankability.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA