Top 5 Solar Energy Developers to Watch in 2025
- Yoann Hispa
- Mar 3
- 6 min read
The global shift towards renewable energy is accelerating, and solar power is leading the charge. As nations work to meet ambitious climate goals and secure their energy independence, the role of solar energy has become more critical than ever. The innovation and scale brought by leading solar developers are transforming our ability to harness the sun's power. These companies are not just building power plants; they are pioneering new technologies, creating grid-scale storage solutions, and making clean energy more accessible and affordable. In 2025, a few key players are set to make significant strides, shaping the future of the energy landscape.
This post will spotlight five of the most influential solar energy developers to watch in the coming year. We will explore their groundbreaking projects, technological advancements, and the strategic moves that position them to lead the solar revolution.
Top 5 Solar Energy Developers to Watch in 2025
Top solar energy developers to watch in 2025 include NextEra Energy, Orsted, First Solar, EDF Power Solutions, and Brookfield Renewables.
1) NextEra Energy, Inc.Â
NextEra Energy, through its subsidiary NextEra Energy Resources, stands as a titan in the North American renewable energy market. While their portfolio includes wind and nuclear, their solar development pipeline is one of the largest and most ambitious in the world. As a current LandGate user, they have consistently demonstrated an ability to execute massive projects that redefine the scale of solar power generation.
Key Achievements
NextEra has a long history of successful, large-scale renewable projects. Their portfolio includes the massive Desert Sunlight Solar Farm and the Genesis Solar Energy Project, both of which are landmark developments in the United States. The company is also a leader in integrating battery storage with its solar farms, creating reliable power sources that can deliver electricity even when the sun isn't shining. This focus on "firming" renewable energy makes their projects more valuable to the grid.
Why They're One to Watch in 2025
In 2025, NextEra is expected to continue its aggressive expansion of solar and storage capacity. Look for them to announce new, even larger hybrid projects that combine solar PV with multi-hour battery storage. Their financial strength and deep operational experience allow them to take on complex projects that others cannot, solidifying their position as a market leader. Their investments in green hydrogen production, powered by their vast solar fleet, could also begin to see significant progress.Â
2) Orsted
Originally known for its dominance in offshore wind, Danish energy giant Orsted has made a powerful and strategic entry into the solar energy and onshore renewables market. By acquiring and developing solar projects, particularly in the United States, Orsted is diversifying its portfolio and leveraging its expertise in managing large-scale energy infrastructure. Their vision is to create a world that runs entirely on green energy, and solar is a cornerstone of that strategy.
Key Achievements
Orsted has successfully developed several large solar farms in Texas and other solar-rich regions of the U.S. The company has proven its ability to transfer its project management excellence from the offshore wind sector to onshore solar and storage development. They are particularly adept at creating hybrid power plants that combine wind, solar, and battery storage to provide more consistent and reliable renewable energy.
Why They're One to Watch in 2025
Orsted's transition into a multi-technology renewable energy developer is gaining serious momentum. In 2025, expect them to accelerate their solar and storage project pipeline, potentially entering new geographic markets. Their expertise in navigating complex permitting processes and supply chains, honed in the offshore wind industry, gives them a competitive advantage. Keep an eye on their efforts to integrate solar power with green hydrogen and e-fuel production facilities, linking renewable electricity to hard-to-decarbonize sectors like shipping and heavy industry.
3) Brookfield Renewable Partners
Brookfield Renewable Partners operates one of the world's largest publicly traded, pure-play renewable power platforms. Their portfolio is globally diversified across hydro, wind, and solar technologies. With a massive development pipeline and significant financial backing, Brookfield is aggressively pursuing growth in the solar sector through both direct development and strategic acquisitions of other developers.
Key Achievements
Brookfield has a proven track record of acquiring and optimizing renewable energy assets. The company recently acquired Duke Energy's commercial renewables business, adding a substantial portfolio of utility-scale solar and wind projects to its holdings. They also have a global pipeline of development projects totaling tens of thousands of megawatts, a significant portion of which is dedicated to solar PV.
Why They're One to Watch in 2025
Brookfield's strategy of acquiring and developing at scale makes them a formidable force. In 2025, we can expect them to continue integrating their recent major acquisitions while seeking new opportunities globally. Their financial model allows them to invest with a long-term perspective, making them a key player in developing the next generation of massive solar projects. Their focus on providing decarbonization solutions to corporate customers will also drive the development of new solar capacity to meet this growing demand.
4) First Solar
While primarily known as a manufacturer of advanced thin-film solar panels, First Solar also has a robust project development arm. Their integrated business model, which combines manufacturing with development and operations, gives them a unique advantage. They are particularly strong in the utility-scale solar market in the United States, and their focus on domestically produced, high-performance panels is becoming increasingly strategic.
Key Achievements
First Solar has developed some of the largest solar projects in the U.S. and has a multi-gigawatt pipeline of contracted projects. A key differentiator is their cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology, which performs well in hot climates and has a lower carbon footprint during manufacturing compared to conventional silicon panels. The company is also investing heavily in expanding its U.S. manufacturing capacity, aligning with national goals for energy security.
Why They're One to Watch in 2025
First Solar is uniquely positioned to benefit from policies favoring domestic manufacturing, like the Inflation Reduction Act in the U.S. Their significant investments in new factories are set to come online, increasing their panel supply and enabling further project development. In 2025, watch for First Solar to leverage its technological edge and domestic supply chain to secure new utility-scale projects. Their work on recycling and sustainability in panel production also makes them a leader in the circular economy for solar.
5) EDF Power Solutions
EDF Power Solutions, formerly EDF Renewables, has been a leading force in solar development in the US. With over 35 years of experience, the company is one of the top solar power developers and is recognized as a market-leading independent power producer and service provider.
Key Achievements
EDF Power Solutions recently celebrated the Arrow Canyon Solar Storage Project, showcasing their commitment to integrating renewable energy with storage solutions. The company has also expanded its reach by providing industry-leading, cost-effective design, engineering, construction, and operation of solar projects throughout North America.Â
Why They're One to Watch in 2025
As a multi-technology expert, EDF Power Solutions delivers solutions across the entire energy value chain. In early-stage project development, they identify and evaluate opportunities for energy infrastructure development and acquisition. During the development phase, they conduct studies, secure permits, address environmental considerations, and manage contracts, partnerships, and financing. Their engineering and construction teams design and implement the most suitable solutions for building projects, while their asset management teams optimize low-carbon output and ensure health and safety.
The Future of Solar Energy in the US
The future of utility-scale solar development is promising, with significant growth projected despite the passing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July 2025. This legislation fundamentally alters how, where, and whether new solar projects move forward, updating key regulations established under the Inflation Reduction Act. However, it isn’t the end of solar- it’s a reconfiguration of the landscape. As federal tax credits decline, low-regulation alone won’t make projects financially viable. Developers are likely to shift toward states with strong state-level incentives, even if those states have more complex regulations and tougher siting challenges.
Top developers can utilize tools and software for land development such as those provided by LandGate to capitalize on these trends and continue to grow. With LandGate's tools, energy developers can streamline their solar farm due diligence by instantly modeling full utility-scale projects, helping them move their projects into the queue and secure financing faster.
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Evaluate any solar project in minutes using integrated data and potential revenue models, and conduct thorough site analysis, feasibility studies, and due diligence to support interconnection queue submissions or utility RFPs.
With industry-standard outputs- including 8,760 reports and complete feasibility studies- you can make informed decisions confidently and efficiently.
