Sustainability Solutions
Energy
We advise global organizations on managing costs, generating revenue, reducing risk, and accessing renewable energy.
Deep energy market specialists with programmatic risk mitigation and customized transaction structures. We operate at the intersection of energy markets, emerging technologies, and commercial strategy—unlocking value others miss.
What We Do
| Reduce Energy Costs |
Generate New Revenue |
Access Creative Renewables |
Optimize Existing Positions |
| Strategic procurement and hedging that cuts spend and smooths volatility. | Turn your portfolio into revenue through zero-investment energy solutions. | Innovative structures that deliver impact beyond traditional PPAs and VPPAs. | De-risk and extract value from your renewable and traditional energy portfolio. |
Our Services
Energy Procurement
We advise clients on strategic electricity and natural gas procurement, focusing on securing favorable terms when market conditions are optimal, not just when contracts expire. Our proactive approach combines market timing intelligence with sophisticated contract structuring to reduce risk and manage volatility across your portfolio, while providing best-in-class budgeting and forecasting support.
Beyond our sophisticated energy procurement, we support all aspects of an organization's energy strategy. Our Energy Financial Intelligence practice provides in-depth forensic utility bill audits to identify billing errors, rate optimization opportunities, and hidden savings across your portfolio, bridging utility data directly to financial performance.
Focus areas
- Execute proactive market timing using our “kWantify” analytical framework
- Negotiate risk-reducing contract provisions with suppliers
- Provide utility bill audit identifying billing errors and rate optimization opportunities
- Integrate renewable energy access through the broader CBRE Energy team
- Comprehensive forecasting and budget management tools
Offsite Energy & Renewables
We advise large energy users in procuring utility-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) and renewable energy opportunities, such as virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) through innovative structuring that reduces downside risk and manages volatility. Our VPPA 2.0 and battery storage advisory goes beyond traditional contracts—we create new solutions to meet energy and renewables goals by leveraging emerging technologies like batteries with custom structures that shift risk away from buyers.
We maximize market competition by broadly engaging the market with no preferred relationships, ensuring clients identify the best available offers. Our obsession with reducing risk is well-suited for conservative buyers who prioritize downside protection through rigorous economic analysis, buyer-friendly contract provisions, and sophisticated commercial structuring.
Focus areas
- Innovative contract structures beyond traditional VPPAs and tolling agreements
- Maximize market competition to secure below-market offers
- Structure buyer-friendly contract provisions that shift risk away from clients
- Provide rigorous economic and risk analysis
- Deliver end-to-end support from strategy through post-contract monitoring
Distributed Generation
We advise clients on deploying on-site energy solutions that reduce operating costs and unlock new revenue streams without capital expenditure. Our distributed generation practice spans behind-the-meter battery energy storage systems (BESS) and solar installations that lower utility expenses, alongside front-of-the-meter projects that monetize underutilized land and rooftops through fixed lease revenue.
Our experienced contract structuring eliminates key financial risks while maximizing economic value across your facility and real estate portfolio through zero-investment models and innovative contract provisions.
Focus areas
- Zero-capex solutions through innovative financing and lease arrangements
- Negotiate contract provisions that shift performance and operational risk to developers
- End-to-end execution from site assessment through ongoing asset management
- On-site battery energy storage systems (BESS), behind-the-meter solar PPAs, and land and rooftop lease revenue
Community Solar
Benefit from renewable energy without on-site installation through Community Solar programs. Corporate subscribers receive guaranteed savings on utility bills by paying for bill credits at a fixed percentage discount—with no upfront costs required. Projects are local but not on-site, meaning energy procurement and day-to-day operations remain unchanged. Our team helps organizations scale and maximize value from community solar while mitigating risk across active markets.
Our Expertise Includes:
- Guaranteed utility bill savings
- State program navigation
- Renewable Energy Credit (REC) integration
- Program scalability
- Developer pre-screening & sourcing
- Post-contract support
Large Load Energy Advisory
Navigate rising energy costs, grid constraints, and evolving power demands with specialized advisory for data centers and large industrial facilities. Our team delivers tailored strategies to optimize utility rates, manage energy market risks, and secure reliable power supply through both on-site and off-site solutions. We help clients address interconnection reforms, curtailment risks, and the complexities of co-located generation to ensure critical power needs are met.
Our Expertise Includes:
- Data center power strategy
- Grid interconnection advisory
- Large industrial facility optimization
- Curtailment risk mitigation
- On-site generation planning
- Capacity contract structuring
Transferable Tax Credits
Transferable tax credits allow buyers to purchase federal tax credits from renewable energy projects at a discount to face value, generating immediate tax savings with minimal risk. We represent tax credit buyers in negotiations with sellers, leveraging deep project development experience to maximize value, minimize risk, and secure favorable payment terms. Our team purchases tax credits for our own book, ensuring deep market knowledge and aligned incentives.
Our Expertise Includes:
- Source highest-quality opportunities through network of 250+ sellers
- Negotiate commercial protections and delayed payment terms
- Pre-vet deals and assess insurance/guaranty structures
- Distinguish quality opportunities using project-side expertise
- Provide hands-on execution support from diligence through closing
M&A and Capital Markets
CBRE sits at the center of the energy M&A ecosystem, connecting energy buyers, asset owners, tax equity partners, and financing parties. By accessing a network of hundreds of market participants, we enable a streamlined go-to-market strategy and increased value proposition for marketing assets. Our team collectively manages multiple processes in parallel to deliver higher value asset propositions and accelerated time-to-market.
Our Expertise Includes:
- Energy buyer relationships
- Tax equity financing
- Asset owner transactions
- Project financing
- Developer network access (400+)
- Capital raising support
Market Intelligence
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Figures | Intelligent Investment
U.S. Community Solar
A quarterly snapshot of the U.S. community solar landscape, covering federal tax credit and FEOC supply chain policy updates, state-level program developments in New Jersey and Illinois, legislative activity in Ohio and Wisconsin, and emerging opportunities in Maine, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
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Figures | Intelligent Investment
PJM Large Load Reform Heats Up with Dueling Announcements, No Near-Term Relief
A concise overview of PJM’s 2026 capacity market and interconnection reforms, highlighting new 15‑year auction proposals, mandatory curtailment rules, and expedited generation pathways for data center growth.
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Figures | Intelligent Investment
European Power Markets and Battery Storage Update
An overview of structural stress in European power markets and the growing case for behind-the-meter battery storage at commercial and industrial sites, with country-specific updates on the U.K., Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, and Ireland.
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Figures | Intelligent Investment
U.S. On-Site Battery Storage Opportunities
A state-by-state guide to U.S. distributed battery storage incentives and economics, highlighting active programs in Massachusetts, New York, and Illinois, upcoming launches in New Jersey and Maryland, and states facing rising utility tariffs.
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Figures | Intelligent Investment
Europe’s Battery Storage Opportunity
A deep-dive analysis of Europe's battery storage market, examining power price volatility, arbitrage potential, capacity and grid service revenues, government subsidies, and country-by-country opportunities and risks through 2030.
Why Choose CBRE Energy?
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Expertise
Seasoned experts drive results by seizing high-value opportunities and overcoming market challenges.
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Reduced Risk
Programmatic approach with commercial structuring experts to reduce inherent risk of transactions.
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Innovation
Customized transaction structures that address each client's distinct challenges and objectives.