Nelnet strengthens renewables division with GRNE Solar acquisition

July 5, 2022
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
A rooftop solar system on a house in the US. Image: Sunnova.

Financial services and technology company Nelnet has acquired GRNE Solar, an EPC that designs and installs residential, commercial and utility-scale solar in the US Midwest.

The deal, which closed on 1 July, saw Nelnet also buy under-construction and operating solar assets from an affiliate of GRNE.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

As well as constructing projects typically sized at 1 – 5MW, GRNE offers battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging, energy monitoring, and operations and maintenance services.

The firm was established in 2012 by Jess Baker and Eric Peterman, who will continue to lead the business and retain a minority ownership.

“This acquisition presents an outstanding opportunity for the growth of GRNE and for Nelnet’s continued expansion into the renewable energy space,” said GRNE president Baker.

Nelnet’s renewables division offers services such as tax equity investing, community solar subscriptions and campus PV development solutions. The arm’s investment portfolio, including with co-investors, spans more than 200 solar projects.

Scott Gubbels, Nelnet executive director of tax and renewable energy, said the partnership with GRNE will create a solution spanning EPC services, financing offerings and subscription management.

Read Next

October 23, 2025
Aviva Investors and Astatine have announced an €800 million (US$928 million) investment in renewable energy and decarbonisation solutions.
October 23, 2025
Spanish power electronics specialist Ingeteam has won a contract to supply inverters and control systems for European Energy Australia's 100MW Winton North solar-plus-storage project in northeast Victoria.
October 21, 2025
Australia's solar-plus-storage sector gained momentum with 725MW of solar PV approvals advancing across New South Wales and Queensland.
October 15, 2025
The Australian government has approved the 141MW Forbes Solar Farm Project in New South Wales in just 19 days, marking one of the fastest environmental approvals on record in the country.
Premium
October 13, 2025
Brett Beattie of Castillo Engineering looks at some of the key land grading work that can make multimillion-dollar differences to projects.
October 10, 2025
Australia's renewable energy sector recorded its slowest month of the year for additions in September, with 5.8GW of new projects added to development pipelines, according to data from Rystad Energy.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
November 25, 2025
Warsaw, Poland
Solar Media Events
December 2, 2025
Málaga, Spain
Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Solar Media Events
March 10, 2026
Frankfurt, Germany
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Lisbon, Portugal