Florian Zerhusen

Florian is a results-driven CEO with a proven ability to scale operations, optimize capital deployment, and deliver high-performing renewable energy assets in complex market environments. His track record includes:
Energy generated

3,871,593,000

in kwh every year
Capacity

>1.1GW

Transaction Volume

>$2Billion

Homes provided

533,860

with green energy every year
Acres equivalent

>3million

forest needed to sequester annual carbon emission from conventional energy generation
Gallons of Water saved

Billions

annually per EPA

Vision & Execution

Florian Zerhusen, a German-born entrepreneur, is the founder and CEO of a leading renewable energy platform focused on utility-scale wind development, construction, and operations. Since founding the company in 2001 at age 25, Florian has scaled it from a startup into a $600 million enterprise, building a portfolio exceeding 1.1 GW in capacity and generating over 3.8 billion kWh annually. His leadership has been instrumental in negotiating over $2 billion in structured transactions with both strategic and financial investors. As CEO, Florian combines operational discipline with strategic foresight—delivering complex projects on time and within budget while optimizing asset performance and capital deployment. His ability to grow the business from the ground up reflects a deep understanding of project finance, regulatory environment, and stakeholder alignment, all critical levers for private equity value creation. He has consistently demonstrated scalability, capital efficiency, and executional rigor, positioning the company for attractive exit pathways including platform roll-ups, infrastructure fund partnerships, and strategic acquisitions. He has earned widespread respect from industry peers marked by operational discipline, capital efficiency, and a track record of delivering bankable projects that includes optimizing asset performance and navigating regulatory and financial frameworks with precision. Florian’s strategic mindset and commitment to innovation and early adoption of advanced technologies has further enhanced asset value and long-term returns, making him a proven operator and growth architect in the energy transition space.

Transaction Partners & Investors

In scaling the company from inception to a $600 million enterprise value, Florian executed a wide range of transactions—from straightforward deals to highly structured, multi-disciplinary arrangements—across corporate and project finance. His ability to engage and close with a diverse set of counterparties, including both strategic and financial investors, underscores his sophistication as a CEO and his fluency in navigating complex capital structures. Samples of formidable counterparties include:

  • Enjoy some of the Experiences over the years...

  • Strauss Wind Farm

    The 95MW Strauss project in Santa Barbara County, California adjacent to Vandenberg Air Force Base is considered the only succeesful project along the entire western seaboard. Completed in 2023. Read Article.

  • Beethoven Wind Farm

    At 80MW output, this South Dakota wind project enjoys some of the highest wind speed in the fleet. Completed in 2015. Read Article.

  • Chopin Wind Farm

    The 18MW Chopin asset is situated in the beautiful wine country of eastern Oregon. Completed in 2016. Read Article.

  • Amadeus Wind Farm

    Powered with a 250MW nameplate capacity, this the largest project built to date. Completed in 2020. Read Article.

  • Snyder Wind Farm

    Florian's first wind farm. Single handedly developed and raised $101m in four weeks before construction could begin. Completed in 2007. Read Article.

In the News...

  • Ex-BayWa Wind CEO Eyes Next Venture
    PeakLoad - March 11, 2024: Florian Zerhusen, the founder and former President & CEO of BayWa r.e.'s U.S. wind power business, is exploring new opportunities after recently leaving the developer. He is expected to take a leadership position in the energy transition sector, industry sources told PeakLoad. Read Article here.
  • Renewables developers push for a more robust domestic manufacturing industry
    The Biden administration's recent actions to support U.S. solar energy installations may not be enough to create a domestic supply chain, renewable energy developers warned. "We're not learning. We have to get through something even worse than the Auxin case" to see a true domestic renewables supply chain, Zerhusen said during a June 8 panel discussion at the American Council on Renewable Energy's Finance Forum in New York City....Read Article here and another Article here.
  • BayWa r.e. Completes Construction of 250 MW Amadeus Wind Farm in Texas
    BayWa r.e. has completed construction and achieved financial close of the Amadeus Wind project in Texas. Located northwest of Abilene in Rotan, the 250 MW wind farm has begun selling power into the grid and will generate enough clean, renewable energy...Read Article here.
  • BayWa secures tax equity commitment, loan for 250-MW Texas wind farm
    BayWa r.e. Wind LLC secured a tax equity commitment for its 250-MW Amadeus Wind Farm in Texas. The BayWa AG subsidiary received the commitment from a consortium led by GE Energy Financial Services, according to an April 1 news release. The company has also executed a hedge agreement with Morgan Stanley and closed on a construction loan with Commerzbank for the project but did not disclose further details....Read Article here.
  • BayWa r.e. sells its Montana Project to Con Edison
    Con Edison Development (CED), one of America’s largest owners and operators of renewable energy infrastructure projects, today announced the acquisition of Big Timber Wind, LLC, a 25-MW wind project that will provide Montana residents with low-cost electricity. CED purchased the company from BayWa r.e. Wind, LLC....Read Article here.
  • More wind power for Big Sky Country
    Montana is in the top five of all 50 U.S. states for wind power potential, and BayWa r.e. tapped into that wind power potential in the Big Sky Country state in building the 25-MW Big Timber Wind Project....Read Article here.
  • Palm Springs is famous for its wind farms. They may look a lot different in the future.
    There are plenty of reasons for energy companies to repower aging wind farms in the San Gorgonio Pass and other parts of California, including a new law requiring the state to get all of its electricity from climate-friendly sources by 2045....Read Article here.
  • Meet Florian Zerhusen of BayWa r.e. Wind
    Florian, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today. In 1997, I first came to San Diego as a student and received a soccer scholarship for a semester. I fell in love with the town and permanently moved here in 1999 after finishing college back in Germany....Read Article here.
  • Portland Trail Blazers make a play for wind energy
    The Portland Trail Blazers and Pacific Power have reached agreement on a new partnership with BayWa r.e. that will 'green' 100% of the Moda Center's electricity usage through Pacific Power with renewable energy certificates generated by wind energy produced at BayWa r.e.'s Chopin Wind Project...Read Article here.
  • Greenbacker Acquires Wagner Wind Farm
    Wagner Wind has a 20-year power purchase agreement, with approximately 15 years remaining as of the acquisition date. BayWa r.e. developed and constructed the facility which it has operated continuously since December 21, 2012....Read Article here.
  • BayWa r.e. Wind Completes Project Acquisition In Montana
    As reported, all assets are held in Big Timber Wind LLC, and BayWa will immediately begin the construction of the project, which is slated to be placed into service in 2017....Read Article here.
  • BayWa r.e. Wind acquires 500 turbine legacy wind projects in Palm Springs
    BayWa r.e. Wind, LLC has announced their latest acquisition, a series of legacy projects in Palm Springs, California. The projects are consolidated in Coachella Wind, LLC, which is wholly owned by the company. The more than 500 turbines were built in the 1980’s and generate about 70 GWh annually.....Read Article here.
  • NorthWestern Energy Announces Agreement to Purchase Wind Project from BayWa r.e. Wind LLC in South Dakota
    SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- NorthWestern Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NYSE: NWE) has entered into an agreement to purchase the recently constructed 80-megawatt Beethoven wind qualifying facility (QF) project located near Tripp, South Dakota. The $143 million purchase of the facility from BayWa r.e. Wind LLC includes 43 turbines and the rights to a 50MW expansion site adjacent to the existing facility. The project was completed in May 2015.....Read Article here.
  • ...check back soon for more news articles.
San Diego, California
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