- US based NextPower ranks first globally in Wood Mackenzie tracker assessment for the first half of 2025.
- Grade A manufacturers now represent 99 percent of global PV tracker shipments.
- ESG performance service quality and supply chain resilience emerge as key competitive drivers.
US based solar tracker manufacturer NextPower has secured the top position in Wood Mackenzie’s global photovoltaic tracker manufacturer rankings for the first half of 2025. The company leads a competitive field that includes China’s Trina Tracker in second place and another US firm Array in third.
The latest ranking evaluates 24 leading tracker manufacturers operating across five countries. According to Wood Mackenzie the results reflect a maturing global market where operational excellence strong governance and long term service capability are increasingly decisive factors.
“Our latest global tracker landscape is led by manufacturers that successfully combine scale with engineering innovation,” said Timothy Shen Senior Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “Competitive advantage is no longer defined solely by shipment volume but by performance across ESG initiatives service quality and resilient supply chains.”
The assessment applies a score based methodology that measures manufacturers across eight weighted criteria. These include ESG and corporate social responsibility performance aftersales service and warranty research and development supply chain stability capacity utilisation third party certifications financial condition and manufacturing experience.
Top 10 global PV Trackers. Image credit: Woodmac
The findings show that sustainability and service standards are becoming central to market leadership. Six of the top ten manufacturers achieved an EcoVadis bronze rating or higher placing them among the top 30 percent of companies globally for sustainability performance. Leading players have also strengthened aftersales and warranty frameworks to reduce long term risk for project developers and asset owners.
Geographic diversification is another notable trend particularly as manufacturers respond to trade policy uncertainty steel price volatility and logistics disruptions. Chinese original equipment manufacturers now hold four of the top ten positions and are expanding overseas production to support supply reliability and access to key markets including North America Europe and emerging regions.
Despite ongoing consolidation innovation remains strong. All top ten manufacturers have invested in advanced solutions such as AI enabled control systems and high strength materials designed to improve wind performance and address complex terrain requirements. Financial resilience also continues to support market confidence with eight of the top ten manufacturers reporting revenue growth in 2024.
One of the most significant outcomes of the H1 2025 ranking is the dominance of Grade A suppliers. Wood Mackenzie reports that 99 percent of global PV tracker shipments now come from manufacturers holding Grade A status. This designation is awarded to companies that meet at least five of the firm’s benchmark performance criteria and is widely viewed as an indicator of best practice across the sector.
“The Grade A designation provides a clear market signal for developers EPCs and financiers,” Shen said. “It highlights suppliers that combine operational strength with practices aligned to global procurement standards and long term risk mitigation.”
For Africa’s rapidly expanding utility scale solar market the findings underline the growing importance of bankability service capability and ESG alignment as procurement priorities alongside price and scale.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
