Dan Shugar
American business executive
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
Golden Gate University (MBA)
Dan Shugar | |
|---|---|
| |
| Education | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (BSc) Golden Gate University (MBA) |
| Occupations | Renewable energy entrepreneur, business executive |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Title | Co-founder and CEO of Nextpower (formerly Nextracker) |
| Website | nextpower |
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
- 2023 S&P Platts Global Energy Awards – Shugar received the Chief Trailblazer of the Year award for energy industry leadership and innovation.[27][28]
- 2023 Hoyt Clarke Hottel Award – he received this annual award from the American Solar Energy Society for his contributions to the energy sector.[29][30]