AES bolsters solar pipeline with Community Energy acquisition

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Community Energy has developed more than 3GW of solar and energy storage projects. Image: Community Energy Solar via Twitter.

US utility AES has acquired PV project developer Community Energy Solar, taking on a 10GW renewables pipeline in the process.

Having entered the solar development business in 2010, Pennsylvania-based Community Energy has developed more than 3GW of solar and energy storage plants, with a strong presence in the east coast of the US.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

AES said the deal will bolster its expansion efforts through Community Energy’s solar project pipeline and development workforce.

“Community Energy has built a top reputation over the last 20 years for its ability to successfully develop renewables projects,” said Leo Moreno, AES Clean Energy president.

This year has seen Community Energy sell a Kentucky solar-storage hybrid project – featuring 173MW of PV and 120MWh of battery storage – to Silicon Ranch, expand its senior team and appoint a new CEO, Brent Beerley, who has been with the company since 2001.

Beerley said Community Energy launched its solar business with a mission to commercialise utility-scale solar and decarbonise the grid, adding: “Driven by the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for 10x growth in solar over the next decade, we decided it was time to amplify our impact by joining forces with a world-class partner.”

AES’ US renewables portfolio now includes 4.4GW of operating assets and 5.7GW of signed power purchase agreements.

The company last year merged its US-facing clean energy development business with independent power producer sPower, bringing together capabilities in solar, wind and energy storage.

Reporting its Q3 results last month, AES revealed that alongside its development work in the US, it has also completed the construction or acquisition of solar projects in Colombia and the Dominican Republic this year. As of November, the company’s backlog is 9.2GW.

AES earlier this month launched a solar installation robot to support its teams in the construction of PV plants. Called Atlas, the artificial intelligence-enabled robot will complement the firm’s workforce by performing tasks such as heavy lifting and attaching solar modules.

The robot enables “a safer work environment, shorter project timelines and lower overall energy costs”, Chris Shelton, AES chief product officer, said when the innovation was unveiled.

Read Next

July 28, 2025
Spanish energy firm Zelestra and Portuguese utility EDP have signed what they call the “first” solar-plus-storage power purchase agreement (PPA) in the Spanish renewables market.
July 25, 2025
The US state of New York expects to install 35GW of solar PV and 9.4GW of battery energy storage system (BESS) by 2040.
July 24, 2025
The Spanish Congress of Deputies has toppled the royal decree-law aimed at reforming the grid after the 28 April blackout, which affected the Iberian Peninsula.
July 23, 2025
Utility giant Engie North America has acquired a portfolio of multiple solar projects from solar energy developer Prospect14.
July 23, 2025
US-based microinverter manufacturer Enphase Energy saw a decline of two percentage points in its gross margin for Q2 2025 due to Donald Trump's “reciprocal” tariffs regime.
July 23, 2025
A rise in global tariffs could impact solar PV and battery energy storage system (BESS) installations in the US and EU by up to 10% by 2035.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico
Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK