19 renewable energy investors investing in solar, wind and battery storage in 2025

If you're building a solar, wind, or battery storage company, you need investors who actually understand renewable energy—not just VCs who checked "climate tech" off a list because it's trendy.

The renewable energy sector saw global investment hit $2.1 trillion in 2024. But here's what most founders don't realize: most of that capital went to infrastructure projects, not startups. If you're raising venture capital for an early-stage renewable company, you're competing in a much smaller pool with very specific investors who know the difference between power purchase agreements and pitch decks.

Don't waste time pitching generalist VCs who'll ghost you after one call because they don't understand your unit economics or LCOE metrics. The investors on this list have actual renewable energy portfolios, understand project finance, and know why your Series A might take 18 months instead of 6.

Here's who's writing checks in 2025, what they've funded recently, and how to actually reach them.

Quick list

Picking the right renewable energy investor

Technology maturity: Find investors who've backed companies at your current TRL level. Pilot-stage solar panel manufacturers need different capital than commercial-stage battery storage deployers. Seed investors often don't understand the capital requirements for scaling manufacturing or project development.

Regulatory knowledge: Your investor should know the IRA, ITC, and PTC inside out. Ask portfolio companies whether their investor helped navigate tax equity structures or offtake agreements. Generic climate investors won't understand renewable energy credit markets or interconnection queue timelines.

Capital structure: Most renewable energy companies need project finance, not just equity. Make sure your investor has experience with hybrid structures and can help you access debt facilities when you're ready to deploy. Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable activity links. You'll see who actually opens your project pipeline and financial projections.

Exit understanding: Check whether their portfolio companies actually got to meaningful exits or are stuck in fundraising purgatory. Dead portfolio companies are common in hard tech - look for funds that understood the timeline from the start.

Industry connections: Ask if they can intro you to utilities, EPCs, or corporate offtake partners. Those matter more than generic startup mentor networks. Most renewable energy deals happen through industry relationships, not pitch competitions. Learn how to share data to safely circulate sensitive project documents.

How to approach renewable energy investors

Research deal history: Look up recent investments on Pitchbook or Crunchbase. Solar investors rarely back wind companies. Storage investors think differently than generation investors. Don't waste time pitching seed funds if you're deploying projects at scale.

Show unit economics: Lead with LCOE, payback period, and IRR assumptions. Most investors are tired of climate impact slides without proven project economics. If you're pre-revenue, show pilot data and signed LOIs with real offtake partners. Consider password-protecting your presentations to control access during early outreach.

Track investor engagement: Upload to Ellty and send pitch deck links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on—if they skip your technology section but study your pipeline slides, that tells you what they care about.

Get warm intros: Message portfolio founders on LinkedIn and ask about response times and actual value beyond capital. Most will be honest about whether their investor helped with offtake agreements or just showed up to board meetings.

Target industry events: RE+ (formerly Solar Power International), BNEF Summit, and ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit are where deals actually happen. Skip generic startup conferences.

Use LinkedIn strategically: Connect with partners after you've been introduced. Cold DMs rarely work in energy - this industry runs on relationships and technical credibility.

Prepare your data room: Set up an Ellty data room with your financial model, project pipeline, offtake agreements, and interconnection studies before they ask. This reduces diligence time and helps avoid common document sharing mistakes.

Lead with traction: Start calls with contracted revenue, signed PPAs, or completed pilots. Don't spend 20 minutes on market size slides - they know the energy transition is happening.

Why this matters now

The IRA changed everything for renewable energy fundraising. $369B in climate incentives means investors are finally looking seriously at solar manufacturing, battery storage, and grid infrastructure. But capital is concentrating in proven technologies with clear paths to commercial scale. Seed funding for novel renewable tech is harder than ever - investors want to see pilot data and letters of intent before writing checks. The funds backing deals in 2025 understand regulatory timelines, tax equity structures, and project finance. Generic climate VCs without energy experience are mostly sitting on the sidelines.

38 top renewable energy investors

1. Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Gates-backed fund that takes long-term bets on hard tech with 10-20 year horizons.

• Recent Deals: Form Energy ($450M Series F, 2024), Koloma ($245M Series B, 2024), TerraPower (ongoing investment in advanced nuclear)
• LinkedIn: Breakthrough Energy Ventures
• Sector Focus: Long-duration storage, green hydrogen, advanced geothermal, grid software, carbon removal
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Seattle, USA
• Website: breakthroughenergy.org

2. Energy Impact Partners

Backed by utilities and energy companies, which means they understand grid integration better than most.

• Recent Deals: Palmetto ($150M Series C, 2024), Sense ($105M Series C, 2023), Turntide Technologies ($225M Series E, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Energy Impact Partners
• Sector Focus: Grid modernization, distributed energy, EV charging, energy software
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: energyimpactpartners.com

3. Generate Capital

Infrastructure investor that actually builds and operates projects, not just writes checks.

• Recent Deals: $2B deployed across distributed solar, wind, and storage projects (2024), Nexamp partnership, Pine Gate Renewables partnership
• LinkedIn: Generate Capital
• Sector Focus: Distributed solar, battery storage, community solar, sustainable infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Growth, Project Finance
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: generatecapital.com

4. Prelude Ventures

Early-stage fund that backs energy and industrial tech before they're obvious bets.

• Recent Deals: Amperon ($20M Series B, 2024), Turntide Technologies (multiple rounds), Zeus Living (cleantech-enabled housing)
• LinkedIn: Prelude Ventures
• Sector Focus: Grid forecasting, energy software, smart buildings, industrial efficiency
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: preludeventures.com

5. Congruent Ventures

West Coast fund focused on early-stage climate tech with proven technical founders.

• Recent Deals: Aurora Solar (backed through growth before $250M exit), Radiant Nuclear ($40M Series A, 2024), Sublime Systems ($40M Series A, 2023)
• LinkedIn: Congruent Ventures
• Sector Focus: Solar software, nuclear, low-carbon materials, energy storage
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Boston, USA
• Website: congruentvc.com

6. G2VP

Khosla spin-out that backs capital-intensive climate companies other VCs avoid.

• Recent Deals: Redwood Materials ($2B Series D, 2023), Impossible Foods (growth rounds), Twelve (carbon transformation)
• LinkedIn: G2VP
• Sector Focus: Battery recycling, circular materials, carbon utilization, sustainable manufacturing
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: g2vp.com

7. Lowercarbon Capital

Aggressive climate fund that moves fast and backs contrarian bets in energy.

• Recent Deals: Fervo Energy ($244M Series D, 2024), Quaise Energy ($40M Series B, 2023), Noon Energy ($28M Series A, 2024)
• LinkedIn: Lowercarbon Capital
• Sector Focus: Next-gen geothermal, long-duration storage, direct air capture, solar manufacturing
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: lowercarboncapital.com

8. Spring Lane Capital

Project finance specialist that understands solar and storage deployment economics.

• Recent Deals: $1.5B deployed across solar and storage projects (2023-2024), multiple community solar partnerships
• LinkedIn: Spring Lane Capital
• Sector Focus: Solar projects, battery storage, community solar
• Stage Focus: Project Finance, Growth
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: springlanecap.com

9. Blue Bear Capital

Growth equity fund focused on distributed energy and grid infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Stem (backed pre-IPO at $1.4B valuation), Sunnova (growth investment), multiple distributed energy companies
• LinkedIn: Blue Bear Capital
• Sector Focus: Distributed solar, energy storage, virtual power plants
• Stage Focus: Growth, Pre-IPO
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: bluebearcap.com

10. Clean Energy Ventures

Thesis-driven seed investor that publishes research on where they're investing next.

• Recent Deals: Multiple seed rounds in solar hardware, wind optimization, and storage companies (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Clean Energy Ventures
• Sector Focus: Solar hardware, wind tech, energy storage, grid software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
• Location: Boston, USA
• Website: cleanenergyventures.com

11. Prime Impact Fund

Multi-stage investor focused on residential solar and distributed energy.

• Recent Deals: Sunnova Energy (growth rounds), Freedom Forever (solar installation platform), multiple residential solar companies
• LinkedIn: Prime Impact Fund
• Sector Focus: Residential solar, solar financing, energy efficiency
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Denver, USA
• Website: primeimpactfund.com

12. Invenergy

One of the largest private renewable energy developers with a corporate VC arm.

• Recent Deals: Regulatory Science ($30M Series A, 2024), multiple grid-scale storage and renewable integration investments
• LinkedIn: Invenergy
• Sector Focus: Grid-scale storage, renewable integration, energy trading software
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Strategic
• Location: Chicago, USA
• Website: invenergy.com

13. Galvanize Climate Solutions

Growth equity firm backing proven climate tech companies scaling operations.

• Recent Deals: Electriq Power (Series C, 2023), Aqua Metals (growth investment), multiple energy storage companies
• LinkedIn: Galvanize Climate Solutions
• Sector Focus: Energy storage, solar, battery recycling
• Stage Focus: Series C, Growth
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: galvanizeclimate.com

14. Scottish Equity Partners

European growth investor with deep renewables expertise and project finance capabilities.

• Recent Deals: Orbital Marine Power (tidal energy commercialization, 2023-2024), multiple UK renewable energy companies
• LinkedIn: Scottish Equity Partners
• Sector Focus: Offshore wind, tidal energy, marine renewables, solar
• Stage Focus: Growth, Project Finance
• Location: Edinburgh, UK
• Website: sep.co.uk

15. Evok Innovations

Canadian cleantech investor backed by major energy and materials companies.

• Recent Deals: CarbonCure ($80M Series C, 2023), Ekona Power (green hydrogen, 2024), multiple industrial decarbonization companies
• LinkedIn: Evok Innovations
• Sector Focus: Carbon-free materials, green hydrogen, industrial decarbonization
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Calgary, Canada
• Website: evokinnovations.com

16. DCVC

Data-driven VC that backs computational approaches to energy and climate problems.

• Recent Deals: Twelve ($645M total raised), Pachama (carbon credits platform), multiple grid optimization companies
• LinkedIn: DCVC
• Sector Focus: Grid optimization, energy storage software, carbon markets, renewable forecasting
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: dcvc.com

17. Fifth Wall Climate Tech

Real estate-focused climate fund that backs building and distributed energy tech.

• Recent Deals: Span ($231M Series B, 2024), Sealed (home energy efficiency), multiple building decarbonization companies
• LinkedIn: Fifth Wall
• Sector Focus: Building electrification, distributed solar, heat pumps, smart panels
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Website: fifthwall.com

18. Energy Revolution Ventures

BP-backed fund that invests across the energy transition value chain.

• Recent Deals: Eavor Technologies (geothermal, $182M, 2023), Heliogen (solar thermal), multiple hydrogen companies
• LinkedIn: Energy Revolution Ventures
• Sector Focus: Solar, wind, hydrogen, geothermal, energy storage
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: London, UK
• Website: energyrevolutionventures.com

19. Katapult Accelerator

Norwegian climate accelerator and fund focused on Nordic renewable energy startups.

• Recent Deals: Multiple Nordic solar, wind, and ocean energy seed investments (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Katapult
• Sector Focus: Ocean energy, offshore wind, solar, climate adaptation
• Stage Focus: Pre-seed, Seed
• Location: Oslo, Norway
• Website: katapult.vc

20. NGP Energy Technology Partners

Growth equity firm focused on proven renewable energy companies with commercial traction.

• Recent Deals: Multiple growth investments in solar, storage, and renewable natural gas companies (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: NGP Energy Technology Partners
• Sector Focus: Solar, storage, renewable natural gas, grid infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Growth, Late Stage
• Location: Houston, USA
• Website: ngpenergy.com

21. Union Square Ventures

NYC-based fund that occasionally backs climate tech with network effects or platform dynamics.

• Recent Deals: Crusoe Energy (bitcoin mining + flare gas, $505M Series C, 2023), historically backed renewable energy software
• LinkedIn: Union Square Ventures
• Sector Focus: Energy software, grid optimization platforms, renewable energy marketplaces
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: usv.com

22. Activate Capital

East Coast impact investor that backs renewable energy and climate adaptation companies.

• Recent Deals: Multiple solar and battery storage investments (2023-2024), community solar projects
• LinkedIn: Activate Capital
• Sector Focus: Community solar, distributed storage, climate resilience
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: activatecapital.com

23. Khosla Ventures

Legendary fund that's backed some of the biggest renewable energy exits and failures.

• Recent Deals: QuantumScape (solid-state batteries, public), Helion Energy (fusion, $500M+ raised), Commonwealth Fusion Systems
• LinkedIn: Khosla Ventures
• Sector Focus: Advanced energy storage, fusion, solar manufacturing, biofuels
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: khoslaventures.com

24. Horizons Ventures

Li Ka-shing's fund that takes long-term positions in breakthrough energy tech.

• Recent Deals: Hampton Creek (plant-based foods), Impossible Foods, multiple renewable energy companies
• LinkedIn: Horizons Ventures
• Sector Focus: Solar, storage, synthetic biology for energy
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Hong Kong
• Website: horizonsventures.com

25. Capricorn Investment Group

Family office-style fund with patient capital for renewable energy infrastructure.

• Recent Deals: Tesla (early investor), SolarCity (pre-acquisition), multiple renewable energy and storage companies
• LinkedIn: Capricorn Investment Group
• Sector Focus: Solar, EVs, battery storage, sustainable transportation
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Growth
• Location: Palo Alto, USA
• Website: capricorninvestmentgroup.com

26. Macquarie Capital

Investment banking arm that structures project finance for large-scale renewable deployments.

• Recent Deals: $10B+ in renewable energy project finance (2023-2024), multiple utility-scale solar and wind farms
• LinkedIn: Macquarie Capital
• Sector Focus: Utility-scale solar, offshore wind, grid-scale storage
• Stage Focus: Project Finance, Infrastructure
• Location: Sydney, Australia
• Website: macquarie.com

27. Total Energies Ventures

Corporate VC arm of French energy major with project development capabilities.

• Recent Deals: Sunfire (electrolysis, $215M Series D, 2024), multiple solar and storage companies
• LinkedIn: Total Energies Ventures
• Sector Focus: Solar, green hydrogen, battery storage, renewable natural gas
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Paris, France
• Website: totalenergies.com

28. Shell Ventures

Oil major's VC arm that invests in energy transition with strategic partnership potential.

• Recent Deals: Sense (energy monitoring, $105M Series C, 2023), Form Energy, LanzaJet (sustainable aviation fuel)
• LinkedIn: Shell Ventures
• Sector Focus: Hydrogen, carbon capture, renewable natural gas, battery storage
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Strategic
• Location: London, UK
• Website: shell.com

29. Equinor Ventures

Norwegian energy company's VC arm focused on offshore wind and ocean energy.

• Recent Deals: TeraWatt Infrastructure (offshore wind development, 2023), multiple marine renewable energy companies
• LinkedIn: Equinor Ventures
• Sector Focus: Offshore wind, floating solar, marine energy, hydrogen
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Strategic
• Location: Stavanger, Norway
• Website: equinor.com

30. Schneider Electric Energy Access

Corporate fund focused on distributed renewable energy in emerging markets.

• Recent Deals: Multiple mini-grid and distributed solar companies in Africa and Asia (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Schneider Electric Energy Access
• Sector Focus: Mini-grids, distributed solar, energy access, microgrids
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Project Finance
• Location: Paris, France
• Website: se.com

31. NextEra Energy Resources

Largest renewable energy developer in North America with strategic investment arm.

• Recent Deals: Multiple grid-scale solar and storage projects totaling $15B+ (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: NextEra Energy
• Sector Focus: Utility-scale solar, wind, battery storage
• Stage Focus: Project Finance, Strategic
• Location: Juno Beach, USA
• Website: nexteraenergy.com

32. BlackRock Renewable Power

Infrastructure fund managing $7B+ in renewable energy assets globally.

• Recent Deals: Multiple utility-scale wind and solar acquisitions (2023-2024), offshore wind development
• LinkedIn: BlackRock
• Sector Focus: Utility-scale renewables, offshore wind, grid infrastructure
• Stage Focus: Growth, Infrastructure
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: blackrock.com

33. Brookfield Renewable Partners

One of the world's largest renewable power operators with development and acquisition strategy.

• Recent Deals: $10B+ deployed in solar, wind, and hydro projects (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Brookfield Renewable
• Sector Focus: Hydro, wind, solar, storage, renewable natural gas
• Stage Focus: Growth, Infrastructure, Project Finance
• Location: Toronto, Canada
• Website: brookfieldrenewable.com

34. Orsted Ventures

Danish offshore wind leader's venture arm investing in adjacent technologies.

• Recent Deals: Amp Energy (distributed renewables, 2023), multiple offshore wind and hydrogen companies
• LinkedIn: Orsted
• Sector Focus: Offshore wind, green hydrogen, power-to-x, renewable fuels
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Strategic
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Website: orsted.com

35. Canadian Solar Capital

Project developer and investor in utility-scale solar and storage globally.

• Recent Deals: $3B+ in solar and storage project development (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Canadian Solar
• Sector Focus: Utility-scale solar, battery storage
• Stage Focus: Project Finance, Infrastructure
• Location: Ontario, Canada
• Website: canadiansolar.com

36. Pattern Energy

Independent power producer that develops, owns and operates renewable energy facilities.

• Recent Deals: $4B in wind, solar, and transmission projects (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Pattern Energy
• Sector Focus: Wind, solar, transmission, storage
• Stage Focus: Project Finance, Infrastructure
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: patternenergy.com

37. EDP Ventures

Portuguese utility's VC arm focused on distributed energy and grid innovation.

• Recent Deals: Voltaware (energy monitoring, Series A, 2023), multiple solar and storage software companies
• LinkedIn: EDP Ventures
• Sector Focus: Solar software, grid flexibility, virtual power plants, EV charging
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Lisbon, Portugal
• Website: edp.com

38. Enel Green Power

Italian utility's development and investment arm with global renewable portfolio.

• Recent Deals: $8B+ deployed in solar, wind, and storage projects globally (2023-2024)
• LinkedIn: Enel Green Power
• Sector Focus: Utility-scale solar, wind, storage, green hydrogen
• Stage Focus: Project Finance, Strategic, Infrastructure
• Location: Rome, Italy
• Website: enelgreenpower.com

Start tracking your renewable energy outreach

These 38 investors closed deals from 2023 to November 2025. Before you start reaching out, set up proper tracking. Most founders send the same deck to 50 investors and have no idea who actually looked at it or which sections mattered.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your project pipeline or financial model. Most founders are surprised to learn investors skip their technology slides but spend 5+ minutes on offtake agreements and interconnection status.

When investors ask for more materials during diligence, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your financial model, project pipeline, interconnection studies, and signed PPAs in one secure place with view analytics. You'll know if they're sharing your materials with their engineering team or just sitting on your deck.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor is still active in renewable energy?

Check Pitchbook or Crunchbase for deals in the past 12 months. If their last renewable energy investment was in 2021, they've probably moved on or their fund is fully deployed.

Should I pitch solar investors if I'm building storage tech?

Depends on the use case. Distributed storage paired with solar? Yes. Long-duration grid-scale storage? Target funds that specifically back standalone storage like Form Energy or Eos Energy investors.

What's the difference between project finance and venture capital?

Project finance funds deploy capital for specific projects with contracted revenue. VC funds buy equity in your company and expect returns from an exit. Most renewable energy companies need both at different stages.

How many renewable energy investors should I reach out to?

Start with 10-15 that match your stage and sector focus. If you're getting consistent feedback about the same issues, fix those before expanding your list.

When should I set up a data room for renewable energy diligence?

Before your first investor meeting. Renewable energy diligence is more complex than software - investors will ask for interconnection agreements, engineering reports, and financial models immediately.

Do investors actually care about pitch deck analytics?

Yes, especially in capital-intensive industries. If an investor spends 10 minutes on your project pipeline but skips your technology slides, that tells you they're focused on deployment rather than innovation risk.