Nextracker to Power Landmark 550 MW Solar Project in Greece, Supporting Europe’s Clean Energy Goals
Nextracker Inc. (Nasdaq: NXT), a globally recognized leader in advanced solar energy solutions, has announced that its flagship NX Horizon™ smart solar tracking technology has been selected to support one of the largest photovoltaic developments in Europe. The project—named Oricheio PPC Ptolemaida—is a 550-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) installation situated in Western Macedonia, Greece. It is owned by PPC Renewables (PPCR), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Greek state-run energy utility PPC Group.
The large-scale solar installation, which is in the final stages of construction, marks a major transition for the region. Formerly the site of a coal mine, the land has now been repurposed to house advanced solar infrastructure capable of producing clean and cost-effective electricity. Once fully operational, Oricheio PPC Ptolemaida is expected to generate nearly 1.8% of Greece’s annual electricity consumption, making it the country’s single largest solar project to date.
Supporting Europe’s Energy Transition and Economic Transformation
This development is not just a landmark for Greece, but also a crucial contribution to the broader European effort to achieve energy security, diversify energy sources, and meet ambitious climate targets. As Europe moves toward its stated 2050 objective of net-zero carbon emissions, investments in renewable energy infrastructure like this solar project are essential.
Greece has set its sights on transitioning away from fossil fuels and enhancing its domestic renewable energy capacity. Under the revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the country has significantly increased its renewable energy target, aiming for 82% of its electricity mix to be sourced from renewables by 2030. This represents a sharp rise from the earlier goal of 66% established in 2019. The 550 MW Oricheio PPC Ptolemaida facility directly supports these national and continental goals by injecting a substantial volume of clean power into the electricity grid.
Beyond the environmental and energy impacts, the project is also expected to provide meaningful socio-economic benefits to the Western Macedonian region, which has historically been reliant on lignite-based energy production. The transition of this former coal site into a renewable energy hub reflects both technological advancement and a commitment to a just transition—ensuring that communities traditionally dependent on fossil fuel industries are not left behind.
Nextracker’s Role and Technological Advantage
The success of large-scale solar PV deployments hinges on both site optimization and the performance of the technologies involved. Nextracker’s NX Horizon™ solar tracker is a central element in achieving high energy yield and project reliability. The NX Horizon system is known for its smart tracking capabilities, which optimize the angle of solar panels throughout the day to capture the maximum possible sunlight. The system also features robust design elements tailored for challenging terrain and weather conditions, ensuring longevity and performance.
The deployment of Nextracker’s advanced tracker technology in this Greek project reinforces the company’s growing presence in Europe and its commitment to supporting global energy transitions through innovation and reliable execution. The trackers will not only improve the efficiency of solar power generation but also contribute to reducing the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE), making renewable energy more economically viable on a utility scale.
Commenting on the project, Howard Wenger, President of Nextracker, emphasized the strategic significance of the development:
“The 550 MW Oricheio PPC Ptolemaida solar project is an important step to increase energy independence in Europe and de-risk capacity shortages for the region. We are honored to partner with leaders like Terna SA and Greece’s utility PPC who are operating at the highest European standards for executing large-scale utility solar projects. This landmark project reinforces our culture of serving our customers with world-class technology, backed by our talented European team and a robust supply chain ecosystem.”
Strategic Partnerships and Localized Supply Chains
The engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for the Oricheio PPC Ptolemaida project is being executed by Terna SA, one of Greece’s premier infrastructure and energy companies. Terna’s involvement brings a high level of technical proficiency and operational excellence, both of which are crucial for a project of this scale and complexity.
Recognizing the logistical demands of such large-scale deployments, Nextracker has made significant strides in expanding its footprint across Europe. The company has been proactive in strengthening its local manufacturing partnerships to meet the growing demand for utility-scale and distributed generation (DG) solar projects across the continent. By leveraging a robust global supply chain combined with regional manufacturing capabilities, Nextracker is able to ensure timely delivery, support local economies, and minimize the environmental footprint associated with transportation and logistics.
This focus on regionalization has proven to be a key differentiator for the company, especially as Europe moves to localize critical elements of its clean energy value chain in response to supply security concerns. Nextracker’s model provides an added layer of resilience and agility for project developers and EPCs working within complex regulatory and commercial environments.
Global Leadership and Market Recognition
Nextracker’s selection for this milestone European project further solidifies its position as a trusted global technology provider in the solar energy space. The company has a long track record of delivering scalable, high-performance solutions across a wide range of geographies and project types.
According to recent market intelligence from Wood Mackenzie, Nextracker is currently the top supplier of solar tracker technology worldwide, with more than 130 gigawatts (GW) of trackers shipped globally. The firm has also emerged as the market share leader in Europe, reflecting its rapid growth and strategic alignment with the region’s sustainability goals.
With a growing team of solar and energy experts based across Europe, Nextracker continues to invest in its regional operations, including sales, engineering, support services, and R&D. This local presence ensures that the company can offer customers the full spectrum of design-to-delivery support, tailored to the unique demands of each market.
A Blueprint for Future Energy Projects
The Oricheio PPC Ptolemaida solar park stands as a blueprint for how former fossil fuel-dependent sites can be revitalized through clean energy investment. It demonstrates that with the right partners, technologies, and policy frameworks, large-scale solar projects can be deployed efficiently, sustainably, and with lasting positive impact on local communities and national energy systems.
This project also exemplifies the importance of international cooperation and private-public partnerships in accelerating the clean energy transition. The collaboration between PPC Renewables, Terna SA, and Nextracker illustrates how technology providers, utilities, and infrastructure companies can come together to deliver meaningful outcomes in a relatively short timeframe.
As Europe continues to pursue ambitious decarbonization goals, the successful execution of projects like this one will be essential—not only for hitting emissions targets, but also for building resilient energy infrastructure that can support economic development, grid stability, and environmental stewardship.
