Nextracker Launches ARENA-Backed NX Earth Truss Foundation to Advance Large-Scale Solar in Australia
Nextracker (Nasdaq: NXT), a global leader in solar tracking and energy optimization technology, has unveiled its new NX Earth Truss® foundation solution in Australia. This innovative system—developed to simplify and accelerate solar installations on difficult terrain—has been launched with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), underscoring a shared mission to expand large-scale renewable energy deployment across the country.
Backed by an ARENA grant, Nextracker’s initiative represents a major step toward addressing the growing challenge of land availability and construction efficiency for utility-scale solar projects. The NX Earth Truss system is specifically designed to lower costs, reduce complexity, and unlock new areas for solar development that were previously constrained by soil hardness, topography, or environmental sensitivities.
Tackling Australia’s Land and Construction Challenges
Australia’s rapid energy transition requires building solar farms at an unprecedented scale. Yet, developers often face difficulties in finding suitable land and managing installation challenges on rocky or uneven terrain. Traditional foundation systems—like pile-driven supports—can be costly, slow, or technically infeasible under such conditions.
The NX Earth Truss foundation directly addresses these obstacles. Using advanced structural engineering and automation, it minimizes the need for heavy civil works, soil grading, and rework. This reduces environmental impact while enabling solar developers to utilize previously unviable sites, including regions with hard or variable soils.
The system’s design is optimized for durability, installation speed, and adaptability. Combined with semi-autonomous machinery and precision geotechnical modeling, NX Earth Truss offers a scalable solution to accelerate solar deployment, enhance project economics, and improve long-term operational reliability.
ARENA’s Support and Vision
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s funding and partnership play a pivotal role in the rollout of this technology. Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA, emphasized the importance of innovation in maintaining Australia’s global leadership in renewable energy.
“ARENA is committed to supporting technologies that expand Australia’s renewable energy options,” said Miller. “By making previously unusable land viable for solar development, Nextracker’s Earth Truss technology can help fast-track project delivery and broaden opportunities for investors and communities alike.”
Through its involvement, ARENA aims to de-risk large-scale solar projects, stimulate private sector investment, and facilitate sustainable land management as part of Australia’s broader clean energy transition.
Automation at the Core: The NX Truss Driver™
Central to the NX Earth Truss system is the NX Truss Driver™, a cutting-edge semi-autonomous drilling machine developed by Nextracker. Equipped with precision GNSS controls and drill-and-drive technology, the machine installs truss foundations in a single seamless pass.
This automation significantly reduces labor hours, minimizes rework, and ensures precise alignment—critical factors in large-scale solar construction. For engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors, it also mitigates weather- and terrain-related risks while streamlining timelines and improving project safety.
By integrating automation and geotechnical data, Nextracker’s solution represents a new standard in solar site construction efficiency, enabling developers to build faster, smarter, and with less environmental disruption.
Expanding Solar Potential Across Australia
According to Peter Wheale, Vice President and General Manager for Nextracker in Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, the Earth Truss solution will have a transformative impact on Australia’s renewable energy landscape.
“We greatly appreciate ARENA’s leadership and support in driving next-generation renewable energy solutions like Nextracker’s Earth Truss here in Australia,” Wheale said. “NX Earth Truss is a breakthrough for the Australian solar market. By unlocking new categories of land, we’re giving developers and EPCs greater flexibility and reduced project risk while helping Australia accelerate its clean energy transition.”
Wheale emphasized that the system’s “light-on-land” approach aligns closely with Australia’s sustainability goals by preserving natural vegetation and reducing ground disturbance—two increasingly important considerations in large-scale renewable development.
Strengthening Local Supply Chains and Manufacturing
Nextracker has been a dominant force in Australia’s solar tracker market since 2016, with over 10 gigawatts (GW) of systems delivered or under construction nationwide. The company’s long-standing partnerships with Orrcon Steel and Baojia, bolstered by support from the Queensland Government, have been instrumental in reinforcing local manufacturing capabilities.
These partnerships enhance domestic supply chain resilience, job creation, and skills development within Australia’s growing renewable energy industry. By combining local production with global innovation, Nextracker is helping build a more self-reliant and competitive clean energy ecosystem.
A Global Technology with Local Adaptation
The Australian debut of NX Earth Truss marks the first deployment of this foundation system outside North America. It follows Nextracker’s 2024 launch of a comprehensive foundation solutions portfolio designed for all soil conditions, from sand to rock.
Engineered specifically for challenging Australian terrain, NX Earth Truss integrates learnings from Nextracker’s North American projects while adapting to regional geotechnical and regulatory requirements. The system’s versatility ensures it can be deployed across a wide range of sites—from arid inland regions to coastal environments—expanding the nation’s solar footprint.
Accelerating Australia’s Clean Energy Transition
As Australia pursues its 82% renewable electricity target by 2030, innovations like NX Earth Truss are becoming essential to achieve scale efficiently and sustainably. By enabling the use of more complex and previously excluded land, Nextracker’s foundation technology removes one of the critical bottlenecks in solar expansion: land suitability and construction viability.
Moreover, by improving installation speed and reducing project risk, the system helps developers, utilities, and investors deliver renewable capacity faster—supporting national energy security, decarbonization goals, and regional economic development.
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