Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 26, 2026

Dan Shugar

Dan Shugar is an American business executive and renewable energy pioneer. He is the co-founder and CEO of Nextpower

Last revised
Jul 26, 2026
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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) 1234

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.35

Career

Shugar began his career in the late 1980s in the research and development department at Pacific Gas and Electric Company.236

In 1996, Shugar joined Tom Dinwoodie, who invented a lightweight solar roof system, as co-founder of PowerLight Corporation.378

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.1910 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.1910

In 2007, SunPower Corp. purchased PowerLight for $332 million.711 Shugar was later named president of SunPower.71213 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.71213

In 2010, Shugar became CEO of a solar panel startup named Solaria.1112

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.314 The following year, the company was spun off from Solaria after which Shugar became its CEO.914

In 2016, Shugar orchestrated the company's acquisition of BrightBox Technologies, Inc., which develops predictive modeling software and machine-learning technologies.1516

After Covid, Shugar led efforts to reshore solar tracker manufacturing to the U.S. following disruption of global supply chains.1718 In December 2024, the company shipped the first U.S.-manufactured solar trackers with 100% domestic content.192021

Under Shugar, the company made its debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in 2023.2223 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.2425

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.426

Awards and recognition

  • 2023 S&P Platts Global Energy Awards – Shugar received the Chief Trailblazer of the Year award for energy industry leadership and innovation.2728
  • 2023 Hoyt Clarke Hottel Award – he received this annual award from the American Solar Energy Society for his contributions to the energy sector.2930
References

References

  1. "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. "Dan Shugar is just getting started". Renewable Energy World. March 27, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  3. Hanson, Louis (October 21, 2016). "Tracking the sun, from utility planner to entrepreneur". The Mercury News. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  4. 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. 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. Weirich, Tom (September 22, 2022). We Took the Risk. Potomac, Maryland: New Degree Press. pp. 235–246. ISBN 9798885046398.
  10. Williams, Emily (June 7, 2023). "Dan Shugar". UNC Institute for the Environment. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  11. "Update: Solaria CEO Dan Shugar Responds". www.greentechmedia.com. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  12. Cheyney, Tom (January 11, 2010). "Former PowerLight, SunPower Systems head Dan Shugar joins Solaria as CEO". PV Tech. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  13. "NEXTracker CEO Dan Shugar Talks Innovation, Solar's Evolution, and More". Aurora Solar. February 20, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  14. 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.