Nelnet Renewable Energy
Nelnet Renewable Energy provides commercial and industrial solar development, EPC services, and tax equity financing across the U.S. Midwest. A Nelnet, Inc. subsidiary, it managed over $313M in tax equity and was acquired by MARS Energy Group in November 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersPalatine, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Nelnet Renewable Energy does
Nelnet Renewable Energy is a U.S. commercial and industrial (C&I) solar energy solutions provider and tax equity financing platform, formerly known as GRNE Solar and founded in 2012. Headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska (121 South 13th Street, Suite 100), the company operates as a subsidiary of Nelnet, Inc. (NYSE: NNI) with a 101-250 employee workforce. Its service portfolio spans four pillars: end-to-end solar development, commercial solar panel installation, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services, and capital solutions including tax equity financing and a CleanTech/ClimateTech co-investment platform. The firm has built over $313 million of tax equity under management in partnership with co-investors, and previously operated across Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin using an enterprise field sales go-to-market motion.
The revenue model blends professional services revenue from EPC work with managed services revenue from tax equity structuring and an affiliate-style referral/co-investment line. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution has historically been direct enterprise sales to C&I customers, supplemented by state-specific warranty partners (Photon Brothers in Colorado, Jefferson Electric in Indiana, SolQ in Iowa, and Nebraska Solar Providers in Nebraska) that support legacy installations across the Midwest. The company's customer segments include C&I solar customers (primary), residential solar customers (legacy), and tax equity / co-investing partners.
On November 20, 2025, Nelnet Renewable Energy was acquired by MARS Energy Group, a national commercial and utility-scale solar EPC operator. The transaction transferred new C&I and EPC customer flow to MARS while Nelnet, Inc. retained the tax equity and co-investing operations. Existing legacy customers in Illinois, Missouri, and Wisconsin now access support via MARS, while customers in Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska are served by the regional warranty partners. The combined MARS-NRE platform claims enhanced national coverage, deeper technical and financial capabilities, and a unified execution team, but from the standalone Nelnet Renewable Energy entity perspective, the strategic center of gravity has narrowed to the retained financing and co-investment book.
Nelnet Renewable Energy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Legal name
- Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Website
- https://nelnetenergy.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Nelnet Renewable Energy provides commercial and industrial solar development, EPC services, and tax equity financing across the U.S. Midwest. A Nelnet, Inc. subsidiary, it managed over $313M in tax equity and was acquired by MARS Energy Group in November 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nelnet Renewable Energy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Solar EPC Services
- NAICS
- Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)
- SIC
- Electric Services (4911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ), Solar Balance-of-Plant EPC (Piles/Foundations, Trenching, Combiner Networks) (EUAEADAJ), Renewable Energy Infrastructure (FSAAAKAG)
Keywords
Where Nelnet Renewable Energy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Palatine
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Nelnet Renewable Energy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- EPC Services: Engineering, procurement, and construction services for commercial and utility-scale solar projects
- Tax Equity Financing: Tax equity investment management for renewable energy projects. Over $313 million of tax equity under management between Nelnet and co-investment partners to date.
- Co-Investment Platform: Venture capital investment in CleanTech and ClimateTech solutions through co-investment partnerships
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Nelnet Renewable Energy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Nelnet Renewable Energy provides end-to-end commercial and community solar solutions, including solar project development, commercial-scale panel installation, and full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. It complements these operational offerings with tax equity financing (over $313 million under management) and a co-investment platform that deploys capital into CleanTech and ClimateTech ventures.
Product overview
Nelnet Renewable Energy offers a unified platform of solar energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers. The portfolio centers on four core service offerings: Solar Development (end-to-end project development), Commercial Solar Panel Installation (professional installation services), EPC Solutions (engineering, procurement, and construction), and Financing solutions. Under the financing umbrella, the company provides Tax Equity financing (with over $313M in managed tax equity) and a Co-Investing platform for clean technology investments. The company has been acquired by MARS Energy Group, which now handles new commercial solar services while Nelnet continues supporting legacy offerings for existing customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solar Development End-to-end solar energy project development services encompassing site assessment, design, engineering, and project planning for commercial and community solar installations, targeting business customers seeking turnkey solar deployment.
- Commercial Solar Panel Installation Professional installation services for commercial and industrial solar panel systems, providing turnkey solutions for businesses implementing on-site solar energy generation.
- EPC Solutions Engineering, Procurement, and Construction services for solar projects, delivering comprehensive project execution from design through commissioning for commercial and utility-scale solar deployments.
- Financing Financial solutions enabling commercial and industrial customers to access solar energy through various financing structures and arrangements, bundled with the company's solar development and EPC services.
- Tax Equity Tax equity financing solutions for renewable energy projects, with over $313 million of tax equity under management between the company and co-investment partners to date, targeting institutional investors and project developers.
- Co-Investing Co-investment platform partnering with investors to deploy capital in clean technology and climate technology solutions and innovation, providing venture-style exposure to climate-focused ventures alongside Nelnet.
Companies that use Nelnet Renewable Energy
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nelnet Renewable Energy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Nelnet Renewable Energy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MARS Energy GroupcoreMARS Energy Group acquired Nelnet Renewable Energy to expand its national commercial solar capabilities and strengthen regional presence in the Midwest. The acquisition aims to improve efficiency, scalability, and regional expansion for both entities, offering enhanced national coverage, deeper technical and financial capabilities.
- Photon BrothersminorTrusted partner providing workmanship warranty support for commercial and industrial solar customers in Colorado. Contact: [email protected], 720.704.5636.
- Jefferson ElectricminorTrusted partner providing workmanship warranty support for commercial and industrial solar customers in Indiana. Contact: [email protected], 317.418.3917.
- SolQminorTrusted partner providing workmanship warranty support for commercial and industrial solar customers in Iowa. Contact: [email protected], 888.903.8511.
- Nebraska Solar ProvidersminorTrusted partner providing workmanship warranty support for commercial and industrial solar customers in Nebraska. Contact: [email protected], 308.920.0315.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nelnet Renewable Energy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MARS Energy Group: National commercial and utility-scale solar EPC company that acquired Nelnet Renewable Energy in November 2025; directly comparable in C&I solar EPC service offerings and target customers.
- Pivot Energy: National C&I and community solar developer and EPC serving commercial customers across multiple U.S. states; competes head-to-head with Nelnet Renewable Energy in community and commercial solar development.
- Borrego Solar: One of the largest dedicated C&I solar EPC and O&M providers in the U.S., serving commercial, public-sector, and non-profit customers; directly comparable in EPC service delivery model.
- Catalyze: C&I renewable energy developer integrating solar, storage, and financing for commercial customers; comparable in development-to-financing vertical stack.
- IGS Solar: Commercial and industrial solar EPC and O&M provider operating across multiple U.S. regions with similar developer-to-EPC service model.
- DSD Renewables: National C&I solar EPC and project development firm with operations across the U.S.; direct peer in commercial rooftop and ground-mount solar EPC services.
- KDC Solar: Mid-Atlantic/Northeast C&I solar EPC and developer focused on commercial, public-sector, and community solar projects; similar service mix and target customer profile.
Broad incumbents
- ENGIE North America: Large incumbent utility-scale renewable energy developer and operator; broader portfolio but overlapping in commercial and utility-scale solar EPC where Nelnet competes.
- SunPower: Established U.S. residential and commercial solar company with broad national reach; incumbent competitor in C&I solar installation and financing.
Emerging players
- Dimension Energy: Emerging community and C&I solar developer focused on underutilized land for solar projects; comparable in community solar development and tax equity deployment.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Nelnet Renewable Energy social profiles
Digital presenceNelnet Renewable Energy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nelnet Renewable Energy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Nelnet Renewable Energy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nelnet Renewable Energy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nelnet Renewable Energy
What does Nelnet Renewable Energy do?
Nelnet Renewable Energy provides end-to-end commercial and community solar solutions, including solar project development, commercial-scale panel installation, and full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services. It complements these operational offerings with tax equity financing (over $313 million under management) and a co-investment platform that deploys capital into CleanTech and ClimateTech ventures.
Is Nelnet Renewable Energy a public or private company?
Nelnet Renewable Energy is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Nelnet Renewable Energy founded?
Nelnet Renewable Energy was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Nelnet Renewable Energy based?
Nelnet Renewable Energy is headquartered in Palatine, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nelnet Renewable Energy make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. EPC Services are the primary driver. The others are tax Equity Financing and co-Investment Platform.
Who are Nelnet Renewable Energy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MARS Energy Group, Pivot Energy, Borrego Solar, Catalyze, IGS Solar, DSD Renewables and KDC Solar. Broad incumbents are ENGIE North America and SunPower. Dimension Energy is listed as an emerging player.
Does Nelnet Renewable Energy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nelnet Renewable Energy.
What industry is Nelnet Renewable Energy in?
Nelnet Renewable Energy's product category is Commercial Solar EPC Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMABAB, Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System), with a secondary code of EUAMABAJ, Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization). Its NAICS code is 221114 and its SIC code is 4911.