KKR Invests in Avantus to Support Renewable Energy Deployment in US

Founded in 2009, Avantus supports solar and energy storage development throughout the project lifecycle – from selecting a project site through operations – and owns a large project pipeline of 30 GW_p of solar and 94 GWh of battery storage, enough to provide 20 million people with clean, reliable power. The company has a substantial presence and track-record of successful development in the southwestern US and California power markets, which are among the highest-quality markets for development in the US Since its founding, Avantus has developed and sold 6.5 GW_p and 6.3 GWh of solar and storage projects, respectively.

Avantus is poised to benefit from material secular tailwinds supporting renewables development in the United States. According to BloombergNEF, global energy transition investment needs to almost triple from today’s investment levels to align with global climate goals. Together, investment in renewable energy and power grids is expected to continue to draw the largest share of energy transition spending.

“To support an economy-wide energy transition, there is a need to significantly expand renewable energy generation by 2050 and enable grid electrification. Because of these tailwinds, we see enormous opportunity for Avantus. The company’s impressive team and development track record, coupled with its mature project pipeline, set it apart from other renewables developers,” said Charlie Gailliot, Partner and Co-Head of Global Climate Strategy, KKR. “We are delighted to support Avantus in realizing its full potential.”

Cecilio Velasco, Managing Director in KKR’s Infrastructure team, added, “We look forward to working with Avantus and EIG and leveraging KKR’s substantial resources and operational expertise to accelerate the growth of the business. Today marks the beginning of a new era for the company, one that will help further the transition of the power sector through sustainable, clean energy solutions.”

“Solar is the fastest growing electricity source in the US, and along with energy storage, will serve as the backbone of a modern electric grid that is clean, reliable and resilient,” said Patrick Goff, Chief Financial Officer at Avantus. “KKR’s investment provides Avantus the financial backing and expertise to execute on our ambitious portfolio and lead the energy transition across the Western United States. We are thrilled to embark on this new chapter with KKR and EIG and continue our company’s growth.”