Birch Creek Development
Birch Creek Development is a privately-held utility-scale solar and battery storage developer and independent power producer with a 14.2 GW pipeline across MISO, PJM, ERCOT, and the Southeast, serving utilities, landowners, and large energy buyers through a develop-to-own model.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersEl Segundo, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Birch Creek Development does
Birch Creek Development is a privately-held utility-scale solar and battery energy storage developer, financier, and independent power producer founded in 2019 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with a secondary office in El Segundo, California. The company is organized around two operating entities: Birch Creek Development, which handles greenfield origination, late-stage project M&A, permitting, and financing; and Birch Creek Power, an independent power producer launched in March 2023 that owns and operates renewable energy assets under long-term power purchase agreements. Birch Creek develops projects across four major U.S. wholesale electricity markets (MISO, PJM, ERCOT, and the Southeast), with an active development pipeline of 14.2 GW and 1.7 GW developed since inception, of which 872 MW across 36 projects are currently operational.
The company's revenue model combines one-time development fees and asset sale gains from the development entity with recurring contracted PPA revenue from the IPP-owned portfolio, supplemented by tax equity partnership economics and long-duration land lease income (30-40 year terms). Since 2022, Birch Creek has secured over $530 million in cumulative debt and tax equity commitments from Fundamental Renewables, Foss & Company, KKR, Celtic Bank, West Town Bank & Trust, and Pathward, N.A., supporting the build-out of its develop-to-own platform. In March 2023, the company acquired Foundation Solar Partners, adding 7.5 GW of PJM and MISO pipeline and senior origination talent.
Birch Creek sells exclusively through direct enterprise relationships, targeting investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, large commercial and industrial energy buyers, agricultural and rural landowners, and capital partners. Key offtake relationships to date include Ameren Illinois and Ameren Missouri. The company ranked #3 on the 2023 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing privately-held U.S. companies and #1 in Energy, reflecting 87,665% revenue growth over the 2019-2022 measurement window.
Birch Creek Development firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Birch Creek Development
- Legal name
- Birch Creek Energy, LLC
- Website
- https://birchcreekdev.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Birch Creek Development is a privately-held utility-scale solar and battery storage developer and independent power producer with a 14.2 GW pipeline across MISO, PJM, ERCOT, and the Southeast, serving utilities, landowners, and large energy buyers through a develop-to-own model.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Birch Creek Development industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Utility-Scale Solar & Energy Storage Development
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)
- SIC
- Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Utility-Scale BESS Project Development & Ownership (IPP/Developer) (EUAFAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- BESS Financing, Insurance & Contracting (Tax Equity, PPA/Tolling, Warranties) (EUAFAAAI), BESS Operations, Maintenance & Asset Performance Management (APM) (EUAFAAAG)
Keywords
Where Birch Creek Development is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- El Segundo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Birch Creek Development business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Project Development and Sale: Birch Creek develops utility-scale solar projects from greenfield origination through permitting and financing, then sells late-stage or operational assets to third-party buyers, generating development fees and asset value capture. The company also develops projects for its own IPP entity (Birch Creek Power).
- Independent Power Producer (IPP) Ownership: Through Birch Creek Power (launched March 2023), the company retains ownership and operation of select renewable energy assets, generating long-term contracted revenue from PPAs with utilities and grid operators.
- Tax Equity Partnership Structures: The company enters tax equity partnerships (e.g., with Foss & Company) where investors provide capital in exchange for tax benefits, with Birch Creek receiving financing support and project economics optimization.
- Land Lease and Site Control Agreements: Birch Creek enters long-term ground leases (typically 30-40 year terms) with landowners to host solar projects, converting property into stable contracted revenue generators.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Utility-Scale Solar Development |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Birch Creek Development product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Birch Creek Development develops, finances, and owns utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, operating across the full project lifecycle from greenfield site origination and development through financing, construction, and long-term asset ownership via its independent power producer (IPP) entity Birch Creek Power. The company originates projects, secures land control, arranges capital and power offtake agreements, and retains ownership of operating assets.
Product overview
Birch Creek Development operates a dual-entity structure comprising Birch Creek Development (the project origination and financing arm) and Birch Creek Power (the independent power producer for asset ownership and operation). Together they offer a 'develop-to-own' model covering the full lifecycle of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects. The development entity handles greenfield development, late-stage M&A, and project financing, while the IPP entity focuses on owning and operating completed assets. The company has developed 1.7 GW of solar projects and maintains over 14.2 GW of active solar and storage development pipeline across MISO, PJM, ERCOT, and the Southeast US markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Utility-Scale Solar Project Development
- Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Development
- Project Financing and Capital Structuring
- Birch Creek Power (Independent Power Production)
- Land Lease and Site Hosting Partnerships
Quantifiable outcome
- 87,665% revenue growth from 2019 to 2022, ranked #3 overall on Inc. 5000 and #1 in Energy (2023)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Birch Creek Development
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Birch Creek Development technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Birch Creek Development partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Habitat EnergycoreHabitat Energy announced its first U.S. co-located solar-plus-storage optimization project in ERCOT with Birch Creek. Solar commercial operations expected August 2026, battery operations October 2026. Habitat will provide optimization services for the co-located project under ERCOT's RTC+B framework.
- First SolarcoreBirch Creek ordered 547 MW of First Solar's advanced Series 6 Plus Bifacial thin film PV modules for deployment across its U.S. development pipeline. The agreement strengthens Birch Creek's domestic content strategy with pricing and supply certainty from the largest solar manufacturer in the Western Hemisphere.
- Foundation Solar PartnerscoreBirch Creek acquired Foundation Solar Partners, a Washington DC-based solar developer, on March 24, 2023. Foundation Solar brought 800+ MW of developed/sold projects and a nearly 5 GW pipeline, adding greenfield origination capabilities to Birch Creek's development platform.
- GivePowerminorBirch Creek Development funded a solar project for a rural school in Mangana, Colombia in partnership with GivePower, a nonprofit providing solar energy solutions to developing regions. The project provides electricity for computers, nighttime study, and food refrigeration. GivePower has provided solar power to 2,506 schools across 24 countries.
- FCMminorFCM is a full-service infrastructure management company providing value-adding products and services supporting developers and owners of utility-scale solar energy systems. FCM leverages decades of experience and a national network of partners to support renewable energy programs.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Birch Creek Development competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Strata Solar: Utility-scale solar developer with strong Southeast U.S. presence and full development, EPC, and operations capabilities. Direct overlap with Birch Creek's Southeast and MISO/PJM pipeline.
- Pine Gate Renewables: Developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale solar and storage projects across the U.S. Comparable develop-to-own strategy with a strong co-located storage focus.
- Cypress Creek Renewables: One of the largest U.S. utility-scale solar developers with a comparable develop-and-sell business model and project finance footprint. Directly competes for greenfield sites, PPAs, and tax equity in overlapping markets.
- Origis Energy: Utility-scale solar and storage developer and operator with similar geographies in MISO, PJM, and the Southeast. Direct competitor for greenfield origination, offtake agreements, and capital partners.
- Hecate Energy: Utility-scale solar and battery storage developer and IPP with multi-GW pipelines. Closely comparable on develop-to-own model, co-located storage, and C&I/data center load-pairing strategies.
- Avantus (formerly 8minute Solar Energy): Large-scale U.S. solar developer with multi-GW development pipeline and IPP capabilities. Highly comparable in scale, technology mix (solar+storage), and develop-to-own approach.
Broad incumbents
- NextEra Energy Resources: Largest U.S. renewable energy developer and operator. Sets competitive benchmarks on cost of capital, PPA pricing, and pipeline scale against which smaller developers like Birch Creek must compete.
- Lightsource bp: Global utility-scale solar developer and IPP backed by bp. Competes in similar U.S. utility-scale solar and storage markets with deeper balance sheet and broader geographic footprint.
- EDF Renewables: Subsidiary of EDF with significant U.S. utility-scale solar and storage development (formed in part from acquired National Grid Renewables portfolio). Larger, well-capitalized incumbent competing for similar offtake and sites.
- AES Corporation: Global utility-scale renewables developer and IPP with significant U.S. solar and storage pipeline. Competes for utility RFPs, large-load (data center) PPAs, and tax-equity capital across overlapping markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Birch Creek Development social profiles
Digital presenceBirch Creek Development financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Birch Creek Development leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Birch Creek Development subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Birch Creek Development funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Birch Creek Development M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Birch Creek Development
What does Birch Creek Development do?
Birch Creek Development develops, finances, and owns utility-scale solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, operating across the full project lifecycle from greenfield site origination and development through financing, construction, and long-term asset ownership via its independent power producer (IPP) entity Birch Creek Power. The company originates projects, secures land control, arranges capital and power offtake agreements, and retains ownership of operating assets.
Is Birch Creek Development a public or private company?
Birch Creek Development is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Birch Creek Development founded?
Birch Creek Development was founded in 2019. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Birch Creek Development based?
Birch Creek Development is headquartered in El Segundo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Birch Creek Development make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Project Development and Sale is the primary driver. The others are independent Power Producer (IPP) Ownership, tax Equity Partnership Structures and land Lease and Site Control Agreements.
Who are Birch Creek Development's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Strata Solar, Pine Gate Renewables, Cypress Creek Renewables, Origis Energy, Hecate Energy and Avantus (formerly 8minute Solar Energy). Broad incumbents are NextEra Energy Resources, Lightsource bp, EDF Renewables and AES Corporation.
Does Birch Creek Development have an API?
No public API is recorded for Birch Creek Development.
What industry is Birch Creek Development in?
Birch Creek Development's product category is Utility-Scale Solar & Energy Storage Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFAAAA, Utility-Scale BESS Project Development & Ownership (IPP/Developer), with a secondary code of EUAFAAAI, BESS Financing, Insurance & Contracting (Tax Equity, PPA/Tolling, Warranties). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4991.