AES acquires US solar developer with 10-GW project pipeline

AES Corp. said Dec. 20 that it acquired Pennsylvania-based solar developer Community Energy Solar LLC.

Community Energy has been a private solar developer since 1999. The company has developed about 5% of all utility-scale solar built in the U.S., Brent Beerley, CEO of parent company Community Energy Inc., said in a Dec. 20 announcement. Community Energy, which has offices in Radnor, Pa., and Boulder, Colo., has developed more than 3 GW of solar and storage projects.

"Driven by the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for 10 [times] growth in solar over the next decade, we decided it was time to amplify out impact by joining forces with a world-class partner," Beerley said.

AES said Community Energy will help it deliver on its growing renewable energy pipeline. The Arlington, Va.-headquartered energy company has a U.S. renewable portfolio of 4.4 GW in operating assets and 5.7 GW of signed power purchase agreements, including about 4 GW signed in 2021.

"Community Energy has built a top reputation over the last 20 years for its ability to successfully develop renewables projects," Leo Moreno, president of AES unit AES Clean Energy Development LLC, said in the announcement. "The addition of Community Energy and its 10-GW pipeline to AES will complement our efforts to deliver highly innovative products to customers with a strong pipeline that now totals more than 40 GW across the country and an industry-leading development team to advance projects."