With record heat in large areas of the U.S. and floods racing through Germany, many people are wondering what the future will be like if climate change scenarios emerge as predicted by experts. California-based Generate provides answers and insight to some of those questions, as they are a global leader in building sustainable infrastructure that spans across the energy, waste, water and transport markets.
Founded in 2014, Generate’s efforts can be seen around the world via a community solar project they established in Sullivan County, New York, built in partnership with Delaware River Solar and a food waste digester in London, Ontario owned by Generate in a partnership with StormFisher Environmental. Working with companies, governments and communities over the last seven years, Generate has built a portfolio of approximately $2 billion in sustainable infrastructure assets helping to position clients to achieve their Net Zero goals.
They are deploying proven innovative climate change solutions that have an immediate impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving resource efficiency. With more than 40 technology and project development partners in place, the company is building infrastructure that serves the mission-critical needs of over 1,000 customers that includes businesses, universities, school districts, cities and non-profits across North America. Most noteworthy is the thousands of jobs Generate is creating across communities that are future focused, as well as the over 43 million metric tons of CO2e that will be prevented from entering the atmosphere over the course of their operating lives.
“Generate is purpose-built to deploy sustainable infrastructure at scale and we are thrilled to reach this milestone that builds on our strong track record and enables our next phase of growth,” said Scott Jacobs, chief executive and co-founder of Generate. “Successful infrastructure projects require a long time horizon, dedicated operational expertise and a commitment to deliver returns for all of the many stakeholders involved in infrastructure. The urgent need to deploy proven climate solutions and get the world to a Net Zero pathway has never been greater”.
Key to Generate’s success is their well-established Infrastructure-as-a-Service model. Clients are able to avoid large capital commitments to meet their sustainability goals, relying on Generate to manage those infrastructure assets. This financial structure removes the key barriers to the adoption of de-carbonization and resource efficiency solutions, giving potential clients access to a range of financing options that align with the challenge of rebuilding the world. This is seen in the company’s recent launch of the Generate Credit unit that focuses on creating credit solutions for green projects and companies to expand beyond North America.
Supporting all of Generate’s climate change innovations is a consortium of funders comprised of the world’s largest pension funds that participated in the $2 billion corporate equity round announced this week. Existing investors AustralianSuper and QIC were joined by a new investment from Harbert Management Corporation, Aware Super, and CBRE Caledon. Their access to some of the world’s largest long-term oriented pension funds and institutional investors from Australia, the U.S., and Europe has empowered them to take on great climate related challenges, making them one of the most capitalized sustainability-focused enterprises in the world.
Generate’s collaborations with sustainability project developers and technology companies establishes them as the only “one-stop-shop” for sustainable infrastructure pioneers. With this additional funding they will further their reach to clients and communities around the world that are seeking to achieve Net Zero goals by embracing climate change innovation.
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