Dan Shugar

Dan Shugar
EducationRensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BSc)
Golden Gate University (MBA)
OccupationsRenewable energy entrepreneur, business executive
Years active1987–present
TitleCo-founder and CEO of Nextpower (formerly Nextracker)
Websitenextpower.com

Dan Shugar is an American business executive and renewable energy pioneer. He is the co-founder and CEO of Nextpower (formerly Nextracker) [1][2][3][4]

Early life and education

Shugar grew up in New Jersey. He graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. He later received an MBA from Golden Gate University.[3][5]

Career

Shugar began his career in the late 1980s in the research and development department at Pacific Gas and Electric Company.[2][3][6]

In 1996, Shugar joined Tom Dinwoodie, who invented a lightweight solar roof system, as co-founder of PowerLight Corporation.[3][7][8]

Shugar and Dinwoodie worked together on existing intellectual property to commercialize single-axis solar trackers and received certification for their use in the U.S. and Europe.[1][9][10] Other innovations included a "solar inverter in a container" for its use at solar power plants, an integrated residential solar roof system and carport solutions.[1][9][10]

In 2007, SunPower Corp. purchased PowerLight for $332 million.[7][11] Shugar was later named president of SunPower.[7][12][13] Under Shugar's leadership, PowerLight and SunPower grew from less than $1 million to $830 million in annual revenues, with Shugar overseeing the completion of more than 500 commercial, industrial, and utility solar projects worldwide.[7][12][13]

In 2010, Shugar became CEO of a solar panel startup named Solaria.[11][12]

At Nextpower (formerly Nextracker)

In 2013, Shugar co-founded Nextracker while working at Solaria to develop a new generation of solar-tracking systems for utility-scale solar power plants.[3][14] The following year, the company was spun off from Solaria after which Shugar became its CEO.[9][14]

In 2016, Shugar orchestrated the company's acquisition of BrightBox Technologies, Inc., which develops predictive modeling software and machine-learning technologies.[15][16]

After Covid, Shugar led efforts to reshore solar tracker manufacturing to the U.S. following disruption of global supply chains.[17][18] In December 2024, the company shipped the first U.S.-manufactured solar trackers with 100% domestic content.[19][20][21]

Under Shugar, the company made its debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in 2023.[22][23] As of March 31, 2024, the company had shipped solar tracking systems for more than 100 gigawatts (GW) of capacity to 40 countries across six continents.[24][25]

After orchestrating multiple acquisitions and expansions, Shugar led the company in rebranding as Nextpower on November 12, 2025, reflecting its transformation from a leader in solar tracking to a global supplier of fully integrated energy technology solutions for utility-scale and distributed generation solar power plants.[4][26]

Awards and recognition

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Come together and seize the moment: Nextracker CEO Dan Shugar has never been more excited about clean energy". Renewable Energy World. May 30, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Dan Shugar is just getting started". Renewable Energy World. March 27, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hanson, Louis (October 21, 2016). "Tracking the sun, from utility planner to entrepreneur". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  4. 1 2 Ludt, Billy (November 12, 2025). "Solar tracker giant Nextracker rebrands as Nextpower". Solar Power World. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Dan Shugar, NEXTracker Inc: Profile and Biography". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  6. ↑ Matsui, Richard (February 19, 2019). "kWh Analytics: #Solar100's Dan Shugar: The Bono of Solar". pv magazine USA. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Lacey, Stephen (November 15, 2006). "SunPower to Acquire PowerLight". Factor This™. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Dan Shugar: More Maestro than Midas". pv magazine USA. April 11, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 Weirich, Tom (September 22, 2022). We Took the Risk. Potomac, Maryland: New Degree Press. pp. 235–246. ISBN 9798885046398.
  10. 1 2 Williams, Emily (June 7, 2023). "Dan Shugar". UNC Institute for the Environment. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Update: Solaria CEO Dan Shugar Responds". www.greentechmedia.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 Cheyney, Tom (January 11, 2010). "Former PowerLight, SunPower Systems head Dan Shugar joins Solaria as CEO". PV Tech. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  13. 1 2 "NEXTracker CEO Dan Shugar Talks Innovation, Solar's Evolution, and More". Aurora Solar. February 20, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Kelly-Detwiler, Peter. "NEXTracker's Dan Shugar: Looking Beyond The First 20 Gigawatts Of Solar". Forbes. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  15. ↑ "039: Dan Shugar, CEO of NEXTracker, on scale, culture, and winning in business and life | SunCast Media". www.suncast.media. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  16. ↑ Bushong, Steven (August 30, 2016). "NEXTracker acquires BrightBox Technologies". Solar Power World. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  17. ↑ "The reshoring of American solar trackers". Latitude Media. July 17, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  18. ↑ Shugar, Dan. "Domestic manufacturing is the key to American energy leadership". The Washington Times. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Nextracker ships first US-manufactured solar trackers under IRA". Power Technology. December 11, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Nextracker delivers first 100% U.S. made solar trackers". pv magazine USA. December 10, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  21. ↑ Ludt, Billy (December 10, 2024). "Nextracker supplies California solar project with 100% US-made trackers". Solar Power World. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Solar Tech firm Nextracker raises $638 million min in upsized US IPO". Reuters. February 8, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  23. ↑ monty (February 15, 2023). "Nextracker feels the love in its Nasdaq debut, but sweats details in the IRA". Factor This™. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Nextracker Is the Market Leader in the Growing Solar-Tracking Industry". Morningstar, Inc. January 24, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  25. ↑ "NXT Stock: Solar Firm Nextracker Powers Up Growth After IPO". Investor's Business Daily. September 29, 2023. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  26. ↑ Staff, S. B. (November 12, 2025). "Nextracker no more: Meet Nextpower". Solar Builder Magazine. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
  27. ↑ "SPC Global". August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  28. ↑ ACP. "Dan Shugar". ACP. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  29. ↑ "AWARDS AND FELLOWS | American Solar Energy Society". Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Solar Today Winter 2023 Page 48". solartoday.mydigitalpublication.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
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