Proa unveils NEXO platform in renewable energy rebrand

Proa has unveiled a new corporate identity and launched its NEXO operating system, marking a new stage for the Australian renewable energy technology company.

NEXO brings together Proa's hardware and software tools in a single system for large-scale renewable energy assets. Twelve projects have already adopted the platform or are onboarding, representing more than 2GW of contracted capacity.

The rebrand includes a new logo and redesigned website as Proa expands beyond its original focus on forecasting. Founded in 2016, the business began by helping solar asset operators improve generation forecasting, then expanded into wind, on-site hardware, telemetry, optimisation and control.

That growth has mirrored the wider needs of renewable energy operators, which increasingly require a mix of plant data, market information and operational oversight as portfolios become more complex. NEXO is designed to connect those functions in one environment.

"We started by helping renewable energy operators better predict generation. Over the past ten years, we have developed the hardware, data capabilities and operational expertise to help them act on that intelligence," said Dr Victor Depoorter, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Proa.

"Our new brand reflects the business we have become: an integrated technology partner helping customers improve performance, cost and reliability across their assets," Depoorter said.

From forecasting

Proa's early development grew out of advanced solar and energy modelling research. Dr Depoorter, a University of Melbourne alumnus, built the company around a practical sector problem: giving renewable energy operators more reliable information to manage their sites.

In 2019, it became the first independent provider of solar or wind farm forecasts to be integrated into the Australian Energy Market Operator's National Electricity Market Dispatch Engine. The work was demonstrated at Vena Energy's Tailem Bend Solar Project in South Australia and became a stepping stone for later expansion.

"From the beginning, our focus has been on making complex information useful to the people running renewable energy assets," Depoorter said.

"As we worked more closely with customers, the opportunity grew beyond forecasting. We could help connect what was happening on site with the decisions being made in control rooms and electricity markets," he said.

Broader scope

Proa now works with developers, owners, operators and engineering partners across solar, wind, battery and hybrid projects. Published customer examples include Potentia Energy, Beon Energy Solutions, TotalEnergies H2 and European Energy Australia.

Its work spans resource measurement, commissioning and ongoing operations. In practice, that includes collecting site data, identifying performance issues, and bringing forecasts, bids, alerts and availability information into day-to-day workflows.

At Potentia Energy's Quorn Park Solar Hybrid project, Proa worked alongside Beon Energy Solutions during commissioning. That work included managing the interfaces between solar generation, battery storage and the grid.

Its MetCube weather stations are also used for resource measurement, including by TotalEnergies H2. The units can operate without permanent site power or communications infrastructure.

The business has added products and systems in stages. It developed hybrid optimisation technology from 2020, introduced automated sensor cleaning in 2022 and launched MetCube in 2024. By 2025, it had delivered its first 50 MetCubes and begun developing NEXO.

"I'm proud of the team that has brought us to this point, and of the trust our customers have placed in us," Depoorter said.

"Each stage of our growth has brought us closer to their day-to-day challenges. This new identity recognises that journey and the broader role we now play alongside them," he said.

Growth plans

NEXO will act as a base for new hardware and software tools as Proa expands across different asset types and electricity markets. The platform is part of a broader effort to turn the company's Australian operating experience into international growth.

That ambition comes as asset owners seek to lift output and improve operational predictability from existing renewable projects, rather than relying only on new build activity. Companies in this segment are increasingly trying to tie together data collection, forecasting and control systems that have often been deployed separately.

"NEXO is our latest milestone and the foundation for what comes next. It gives us a platform to integrate new hardware, develop new tools and keep improving how renewable energy assets operate," Depoorter said.

"The energy transition requires more than building new infrastructure. We also need to get more from every asset: better performance, more predictable operations and greater value from the investment already made," he said.

"Our ambition is global. We want Australian-developed energy intelligence to help power the clean energy transition, supporting customers here and around the world as their portfolios grow and become more complex," he said.