Jigar Shah

Jigar Shah is a prominent figure in the clean energy sector, known for his work as an entrepreneur and investor. He co-founded and served as the CEO of Generate Capital, a company focused on financing sustainable infrastructure projects. Shah has a background in engineering and business, having earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. Before his role at Generate Capital, Shah was instrumental in the development of the solar energy market in the United States, notably as the founder of SunEdison, which became one of the largest solar energy companies. He has also served as the director of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, where he played a key role in financing clean energy projects. Shah is recognized for his advocacy of innovative financing solutions to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and has been involved in various initiatives to promote sustainability and clean technology.

**Jigar Shah** is a prominent American entrepreneur, investor, and strategist in the clean energy sector with over 25 years of experience. Born in India and raised in Sterling, Illinois, he holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and an MBA from the University of Maryland. **Current Role:** Shah currently serves as the co-managing partner of **Multiplier**, a boutique advisory firm helping clean energy, cleantech, and climate tech entrepreneurs achieve successful exits. He is also a part-time partner at **Powerhouse Ventures** and joined the Board of Directors at the **Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE)** in June 2025. Additionally, he co-hosts two podcasts: *Energy Empire* and *Open Circuit*. **Notable Work & Background:** - **SunEdison:** As founder and CEO, Shah pioneered the "no-money-down solar" model using power purchase agreements (PPAs), unlocking a multi-billion-dollar solar market and making SunEdison the world’s largest solar services company before its 2009 acquisition by MEMC. - **Generate Capital:** He co-founded and served as President of this sustainable infrastructure company, which invented low-cost infrastructure-as-a-service financing for decarbonization solutions. - **Carbon War Room:** Shah was the founding CEO of this global nonprofit, co-founded by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite, to support entrepreneurship in addressing climate change. - **U.S. Department of Energy (DOE):** From March 2021 to January 2025, he directed the **Loan Programs Office (LPO)**, where he expanded its loan authority from $40 billion to $400 billion and announced 53 deals totaling $107 billion in committed project investment—one of the largest infrastructure financing programs globally. Shah was named to the **2024 TIME 100 list** of the world’s most influential people and is the author of *Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy*. He is widely recognized for proving that business model innovation, rather than just new technology, drives mainstream capital adoption in clean energy.

# Jigar Shah Jigar Shah is a prominent clean energy entrepreneur and government official: **Background:** - Founded SunEdison in 2003, a solar energy company that became one of the largest distributed solar providers in the U.S. before being sold - Also founded Generate Capital, an infrastructure investment firm focused on clean energy and resilience projects **Current Role:** - Director of the Loan Programs Office at the U.S. Department of Energy (appointed 2021) - In this role, he oversees federal loan programs that finance clean energy projects, including loans for solar, wind, battery storage, and other technologies **Notable Work:** - Pioneered innovative financing models for distributed solar energy - Advocates for using federal lending tools to accelerate clean energy deployment - Has been instrumental in expanding DOE loan programs under the Biden administration, including supporting major projects in battery manufacturing and other clean technologies Shah is widely recognized as an influential figure in scaling clean energy finance and deployment in the United States.

Jigar Shah is a prominent American clean energy investor and entrepreneur. **Background:** Shah was born in India and immigrated to the United States as a child. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Maryland, College Park. **Current Role:** He is currently the **Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)**, a position he has held since March 2021. **Notable Work:** * **Founder of SunEdison:** Shah is best known for founding SunEdison in 2003, a company that pioneered the "no money down" solar financing model (power purchase agreements or PPAs) for commercial, government, and utility customers. This model significantly accelerated the adoption of solar energy by making it more accessible and affordable. * **Co-founder of Generate Capital:** After SunEdison, he co-founded Generate Capital in 2014, a leading sustainable infrastructure investment firm that provides project finance and asset management services for renewable energy, waste management, and water projects. * **Author and Advocate:** He is a frequent speaker and author on clean energy topics, advocating for market-based solutions to climate change. His book, "Creating Climate Wealth: Unlocking the Impact Economy," outlines his vision for a sustainable future. * **DOE Loan Programs Office:** In his current role at the DOE, Shah is responsible for deploying over $400 billion in loan authority to accelerate the commercial deployment of innovative clean energy technologies and projects across the United States, playing a critical role in the Biden administration's climate agenda.

Based on available information, here is a concise factual summary of Jigar Shah: **Background:** Jigar Shah is an Indian-American entrepreneur, author, and clean energy financier. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Maryland College Park. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in "no-money-down" solar financing, popularized through his first company, SunEdison (founded in 2003), which helped create the solar-as-a-service business model. **Current Role:** Since March 2021, Shah has served as the **Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO)** at the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, he oversees a portfolio of over $400 billion in loan authority to finance large-scale energy infrastructure projects, including clean energy, advanced vehicles, and grid upgrades. **Notable Work:** * **Founding SunEdison:** Commercialized the power purchase agreement (PPA) model for solar, making large-scale solar affordable without upfront costs. * **Founding Generate Capital:** Co-founded this sustainable infrastructure investment and operating platform in 2014, which finances and operates distributed energy, mobility, water, and waste projects. * **Author and Podcaster:** Wrote "Creating Climate Wealth" and co-hosts the popular podcast "The Energy Gang." * **DOE Loan Programs Office:** Under his leadership, the LPO has reactivated and committed billions in loans to major projects like battery manufacturing plants, advanced nuclear facilities, and domestic EV supply chain initiatives. In summary, Jigar Shah is a key figure who transitioned from a successful clean energy entrepreneur to a leading public-sector financier, deploying capital to accelerate the U.S. energy transition.

Jigar Shah is an American clean energy entrepreneur and investor. He co-founded SunEdison (originally REC Solar) in 2003, pioneering the solar power purchase agreement (PPA) model that enabled no-upfront-cost solar installations for commercial customers. He later co-founded Generate Capital, a firm investing in sustainable infrastructure. From 2021 to 2023, he served as Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, overseeing financing for clean energy projects.

Jigar Shah is an American entrepreneur and investor in clean energy. Here is a concise factual summary: * Background: Jigar Shah is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has an MBA from the University of Maryland. * Current Role: He is the Director of the Loan Programs Office at the US Department of Energy, a position he has held since March 2021. * Notable Work: Shah is the founder of SunEdison, a leading solar energy company, and has also founded or invested in other clean energy companies, including Generate Capital, a finance company focused on renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. He has been a prominent advocate for clean energy and has written a book on the subject, "Creating Climate Wealth". Please note that my information may not be exhaustive, but this summary provides a general overview of Jigar Shah's background and work in the clean energy sector.