CleanCapital
CleanCapital is a private clean energy investment firm that develops, acquires, owns, and operates middle-market solar and energy storage projects across 28 U.S. states, serving municipalities, utilities, C&I businesses, and developers through long-term PPAs and tax-equity-financed project financing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CleanCapital does
CleanCapital is a private diversified clean energy investment and asset management company founded in 2015 and headquartered in New York, focused on middle-market solar and energy storage projects across the United States. The company develops, constructs, owns, and operates distributed solar and battery energy storage assets at all stages of the project lifecycle — from early-stage development through operating facilities — serving municipalities, electric utilities and co-ops, commercial and industrial off-takers, nonprofits, educational institutions, and community solar subscribers. Its portfolio spans 234 projects totaling 321 MW operational capacity across 28 states and territories, with approximately 450 MW under management and 1 GW in development, supported by brownfield and landfill solar expertise gained through the 2022 acquisition of BQ Energy.
The company generates revenue primarily through long-term Power Purchase Agreements (typically 20-30 years) with creditworthy counterparties, feed-in tariff programs, net metering arrangements, project acquisition transaction fees, and asset management services for institutional partners including Manulife Investment Management. CleanCapital monetizes federal tax credits (IRA Energy Communities, LMI adders) via tax equity transactions with partners such as Nelnet, and is increasingly expanding into battery energy storage through joint ventures with Osaka Gas USA and Available Power. Its customer-facing channels are predominantly direct B2B sales to enterprise and government off-takers, complemented by a developer partner network for project sourcing and a thought-leadership presence via the Experts Only podcast.
CleanCapital has deployed more than $1.5 billion in capital across its decade-long history, secured through institutional debt and equity partnerships with Manulife, Rabobank, Wells Fargo, CIT, Nelnet, and Infranity. The company differentiates itself by institutionalizing a detail-oriented middle-market acquisition process, specializing in environmentally impacted land redevelopment, and serving what it identifies as a critical but underinvested segment of the U.S. distributed solar market representing approximately 14% of installed capacity.
CleanCapital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CleanCapital
- Legal name
- CleanCapital Holdings LLC
- Website
- https://cleancapital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CleanCapital is a private clean energy investment firm that develops, acquires, owns, and operates middle-market solar and energy storage projects across 28 U.S. states, serving municipalities, utilities, C&I businesses, and developers through long-term PPAs and tax-equity-financed project financing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where CleanCapital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CleanCapital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Revenue: CleanCapital develops, constructs, owns and operates solar and storage projects under long-term Power Purchase Agreements with creditworthy counterparties including municipalities, utilities, and commercial/industrial entities. Revenue is generated through the sale of electricity under fixed-price contracts typically spanning 20-30 years.
- Feed-in Tariff (FiT) Revenue: Projects structured under Feed-in Tariff programs that provide guaranteed, above-market prices for renewable energy production, typically involving long-term contracts. This revenue stream supports project economics with predictable cash flows.
- Net Metering Revenue: Projects utilizing net metering arrangements where excess electricity is sold back to the grid, generating credits or payments for project owners.
- Project Acquisition Fees: Revenue from acquiring projects at various stages of development, providing liquidity to developers and building portfolio scale. The company acquires operating assets, new construction projects, and early-stage development sites.
- Investment Management: Managing assets for institutional partners and managing joint venture portfolios. CleanCapital serves as managing member in partnerships, deploying capital across distributed energy platforms.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
CleanCapital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CleanCapital invests in, develops, constructs, owns, and operates distributed solar and energy storage projects across the United States. The company acquires projects at all stages of the lifecycle (early-stage development, new construction, and operating assets), provides financing and tax-equity solutions to developers, and sells power under long-term PPAs, Feed-in Tariffs, and net metering arrangements to municipalities, utilities, C&I businesses, and community solar subscribers.
Product overview
CleanCapital is a diversified clean energy investment and asset management company offering a portfolio of products and services for the middle-market solar and storage industry. The core offering includes solar project investment services, project acquisition at all stages of the lifecycle, and ownership/operation of distributed solar and energy storage assets. Through the acquired brand BQ Energy, CleanCapital specializes in brownfield and landfill solar development with a 1,000+ MW pipeline. The company also operates battery energy storage systems (BESS) through joint ventures, and partners with developers like Renewable IPP (RIPP) for Alaska solar projects. As of recent data, CleanCapital manages approximately 234 projects totaling 321 MW across 28 states and 1 U.S. territory.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Project Investment Services Equity and structured investment in early-stage, new construction, and operating solar projects across the United States, providing capital to developers and project owners and generating long-term cash flows from PPAs, FiTs, and net metering.
- Project Acquisition Acquisition of solar and energy storage projects from developers at all stages of the lifecycle (early-stage development, new construction, and operating assets), providing liquidity, structural and operational guidance, and funding to project owners nationwide.
- Brownfield and Landfill Solar Development (BQ Energy) Development of solar projects on environmentally impacted land including closed landfills, former industrial sites, and brownfields, converting contaminated sites into renewable energy facilities; includes a 1,000+ MW pipeline acquired through BQ Energy.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Development, acquisition, and operation of grid-scale battery energy storage systems, including a 7.7 MW / 30.8 MWh operating portfolio in Staten Island, New York owned through a joint venture with Osaka Gas USA.
- Community Solar Program Development Development and management of community solar projects, including structures that serve low- and moderate-income subscribers (e.g., the Warrior Solar Project under New York's Expanded Solar For All program), providing bill credits and affordable renewable energy access.
- Distributed Solar & Storage Asset Ownership and Operation Long-term ownership and operation of distributed solar and energy storage projects selling electricity under long-term PPAs to municipalities, utilities, and C&I off-takers; includes 200+ owned projects and approximately 450 MW under management.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $1 billion in total investments deployed to projects and companies
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use CleanCapital
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
CleanCapital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
CleanCapital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- Osaka Gas USAcoreCleanCapital acquired a majority interest in a 7.7 MW / 30.8 MWh battery energy storage portfolio through a joint venture with Osaka Gas USA. The portfolio consists of two operating BESS projects on Staten Island, New York City that achieved commercial operation in July and August 2023. CleanCapital serves as managing member, highlighting strategic expansion into energy storage.
- Renewable IPP (RIPP)coreRenewable IPP (RIPP), an Alaska-based solar developer founded in 2017, partnered with CleanCapital to develop and construct the 8.5 MW Houston solar project, Alaska's largest solar installation. CleanCapital provided construction financing and serves as long-term owner-operator, while RIPP handles development and construction. The partnership is expanding Alaska's clean energy pipeline.
- Matanuska Electric Association (MEA)strategicMatanuska Electric Association (MEA) serves as the power purchaser for the Houston solar project, acquiring cost-competitive renewable energy for its members. The partnership represents utility co-op engagement in Alaska's renewable energy transition.
- BQ EnergycoreCleanCapital acquired BQ Energy, a renewable energy developer specializing in landfill and brownfield solar sites, including a pipeline of over 1,000 MW of solar projects. BQ Energy's CEO Paul Curran continues leading operations, bringing expertise in turning contaminated sites into renewable energy facilities. The acquisition expanded CleanCapital's capabilities in environmentally-impacted land development.
- Available PowerstrategicCleanCapital and Available Power formed a joint venture for storage development, combining CleanCapital's capital and asset management capabilities with Available Power's storage development expertise.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CleanCapital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Summit Ridge Energy: One of the largest community solar portfolio owners in the U.S., specializing in acquiring and operating mid-market solar projects. Highly comparable to CleanCapital in middle-market community solar focus, long-term ownership strategy, and creditworthy off-taker base.
- Forefront Power: Developer, owner and operator of distributed solar and storage projects for commercial, public sector, and community solar customers. Closely matches CleanCapital's mid-market distributed generation focus and developer partnership model.
- Origis Energy: Mid-market solar developer, owner and operator with a focus on utility-scale and distributed generation across the U.S. and Europe. Comparable business model of full lifecycle project ownership with institutional capital backing.
- Pine Gate Renewables: Solar development and asset management firm specializing in utility-scale and community solar projects. Overlaps with CleanCapital's project acquisition model and community solar subscription business.
- Nautilus Solar Energy: Owner-operator of distributed and community solar portfolios across North America. Direct comparable in mid-market solar ownership, with similar focus on community solar programs and C&I off-takers.
- Generate Capital: Clean energy infrastructure investment platform that owns and operates distributed solar, storage, and other decarbonization assets. Directly comparable to CleanCapital's institutional capital deployment model and long-term ownership of mid-market renewable assets.
- Sol Systems: Solar energy investment and asset management firm focused on tax credit monetization and direct investment across utility-scale and distributed solar. Comparable to CleanCapital in tax equity structuring and developer financing.
Broad incumbents
- Clearway Community Solar: Subsidiary of Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN), one of the largest community solar portfolio owners in the U.S. Larger, publicly-traded peer competing for similar mid-market community solar assets and contracts.
- ENGIE Distributed Solar: Division of global utility ENGIE focused on distributed solar and storage for C&I customers. Competes in the same mid-market distributed solar segment but as part of a much larger, publicly-traded energy conglomerate.
Emerging players
- Dimension Energy: Community solar developer with a focus on greenfield and brownfield sites for LMI subscribers. Comparable to CleanCapital's community solar and brownfield strategies, though earlier-stage in portfolio scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CleanCapital social profiles
Digital presenceCleanCapital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CleanCapital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CleanCapital subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CleanCapital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds11 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CleanCapital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CleanCapital
What does CleanCapital do?
CleanCapital invests in, develops, constructs, owns, and operates distributed solar and energy storage projects across the United States. The company acquires projects at all stages of the lifecycle (early-stage development, new construction, and operating assets), provides financing and tax-equity solutions to developers, and sells power under long-term PPAs, Feed-in Tariffs, and net metering arrangements to municipalities, utilities, C&I businesses, and community solar subscribers.
Is CleanCapital a public or private company?
CleanCapital is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was CleanCapital founded?
CleanCapital was founded in 2015. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CleanCapital based?
CleanCapital is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does CleanCapital make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Revenue is the primary driver. The others are feed-in Tariff (FiT) Revenue, net Metering Revenue, project Acquisition Fees and investment Management.
Who are CleanCapital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Summit Ridge Energy, Forefront Power, Origis Energy, Pine Gate Renewables, Nautilus Solar Energy, Generate Capital and Sol Systems. Broad incumbents are Clearway Community Solar and ENGIE Distributed Solar. Dimension Energy is listed as an emerging player.
Does CleanCapital have an API?
No public API is recorded for CleanCapital.