Nextracker invests in area robotics and AI for solar energy vegetation

August 2, 2025

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Nextracker invests in area robotics and AI for solar energy vegetation

Nextracker OnSight is an AI-driven robotics inspection and fireplace detection techniques for solar energy vegetation. | Credit score: Nextracker

Nextracker is launching a enterprise initiative centered on synthetic intelligence and robotics. The corporate has already invested over $40 million up to now yr to accumulate three key applied sciences and has appointed its first chief AI and robotics officer.

These strategic acquisitions will strengthen Nextracker’s digital platform, aiming to enhance the deployment and reliability of photo voltaic energy vegetation. The firm‘s final aim is to boost the long-term return on funding (ROI) for asset house owners.

“With thousands and thousands of sensors and management nodes already deployed over roughly 100 GW of working techniques in 40 nations, Nextracker has a singular alternative to harness AI and robotics at scale,” acknowledged Dan Shugar, founder and CEO of Nextracker.

Nextracker appoints chief AI and robotics officer

Nextracker has appointed Dr. Francesco Borrelli as chief AI and robotics officer, a newly created govt function. A pioneer in predictive management techniques, Dr. Borrelli brings many years of expertise creating and commercializing autonomous applied sciences throughout robotics, automotive, and industrial sectors.

In his new function, Borrelli will lead the mixing of AI, machine studying, and superior robotics into Nextracker’s merchandise and techniques to help international scalability and long-term innovation.

“Dr. Borelli brings the imaginative and prescient and experience to guide this evolution, permitting us to ship deeper insights, well timed and incisive actions, and higher buyer ROI throughout our international expertise platform,” Shugar stated.

“Scaling photo voltaic to fulfill international vitality demand requires a brand new stage of autonomy in how we construct and function energy vegetation,” stated Borrelli. “I’m excited to affix Nextracker on this function and assist lead the mixing of AI and robotics—turning area knowledge into real-time motion that drives photo voltaic plant efficiency, reduces danger, and accelerates deployment.”

OnSight’s autonomous cell robotic inspects photo voltaic panels throughout patrols at a photo voltaic farm. | Credit score: Nextracker

OnSight the newest expertise acquisition

As a key element of its digital and robotics platform, Nextracker acquired OnSight Expertise, a pioneer in autonomous inspection and fire-detection techniques for solar energy vegetation. OnSight stated its AI-driven instruments allow predictive upkeep by figuring out and forecasting frequent mechanical and electrical failures, serving to asset house owners scale back operational danger, enhance uptime, and handle web site well being proactively.

OnSight’s crew of robotics engineers, area operations specialists, and product builders have joined Nextracker, and its merchandise are actually commercially accessible within the U.S. with a world rollout deliberate for subsequent yr.

“Becoming a member of Nextracker is an thrilling new chapter for OnSight Expertise,” stated Derek Chase, CEO of OnSight. “From Day 1, our mission has been to deliver superior robotics and intelligence into the photo voltaic area. Along with Nextracker, we will ship smarter diagnostics at scale to enhance response time, scale back danger, and strengthen ROI.”

Nextracker additionally introduced two beforehand undisclosed acquisitions. In August 2024, it acquired SenseHawk IP, which permits the creation of high-resolution 3D as-built maps of photo voltaic undertaking websites utilizing AI-enabled drone-captured imagery. The maps help exact geolocation and digital mannequin alignment to boost web site commissioning and integration with optimization software program equivalent to TrueCapture.

In March 2025, Nextracker acquired Amir Robotics, which has developed a light-weight, water-free robotic cleansing expertise designed for each day operation at large-scale photo voltaic websites. It should combine the system into its current knowledge infrastructure to scale back soil-related yield loss. Amir Robotics’ robots are presently being examined at a number of business websites.

“Integrating robotics and AI into Nextracker’s expertise platform is a great transfer,” stated Sheldon Kimber, CEO of Intersect Energy. “We had been early adopters of OnSight’s robotic inspection expertise and consider that Nextracker has the experience and international footprint to scale these kinds of services and products to multi-gigawatt deployment ranges.”