3 Family Offices Investing in Green Energy Companies

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), green energy, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, hydroelectric, and select biomass sources, offers the greatest environmental benefits. These technologies play a key role in reducing environmental impact both locally and globally. By purchasing green power, individuals and institutions help support renewable energy initiatives and drive continued investment in sustainable technologies. Leveraging FINTRX family office data, which offers insights into thousands of direct deal transactions from over 4,300 family offices worldwide, we highlight three family offices actively investing in green energy companies.

1. Vandewater Capital (Aintabi Family Office)

Founded in 2008, Vandewater Capital (Aintabi Family Office) is a New York-based single family office managing the assets of Jason Aintabi. In addition to overseeing Vandewater, Aintabi is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Blackwells Capital, an alternative investment firm launched in 2016 focused on global public market opportunities. Aintabi has also held CEO and board positions across the hospitality, real estate, and media sectors.

Vandewater Capital takes a broad investment approach, allocating capital across private and public markets, including direct investments, private equity, real estate, venture capital, and long-only strategies, with a primary focus on private equity and direct transactions. The firm is known for originating, structuring, and executing proprietary principal investments, offering both operational oversight and advanced relationship management to deliver end-to-end investment solutions.

Vandewater’s direct investment strategy is diverse and opportunistic, with a strong presence in sectors such as green energy, technology, financial services, and real estate. From 2013 to 2018, Vandewater was the lead investor and controlling shareholder in AltAir Fuels, a California-based producer of low-carbon fuels and chemicals made from sustainable feedstocks. In its first commercial project, AltAir partnered with Alon Energy USA (now Delek) to retrofit unused refining equipment at a 62-acre facility in Paramount, CA, expanding the nation’s renewable energy capacity and producing renewable jet fuel.

Vandewater primarily targets established businesses but remains open to earlier-stage opportunities where its long-term perspective and financial expertise can unlock significant value. The firm’s experienced team sources, structures, and manages investments across North America and Western Europe.

2. Creadev Family Office 

Founded in 2002, Creadev is a Paris-based single family office with additional offices in Shanghai, New York, and Nairobi. The firm manages the wealth of the Mulliez family, one of the wealthiest families globally, with an estimated net worth of $30 billion. The Mulliez family built their fortune through the founding of Auchan, a major French multinational retail group headquartered in Croix, France.

Creadev takes a long-term investment approach, focusing on venture capital and private equity opportunities across a wide range of sectors. These include green energy, recycling, waste management, environmental services, AgriTech, FoodTech, telemedicine, E-health, education, data analytics, and consumer services, among others.

In April 2017, Creadev made a direct investment in Actility, a technology company specializing in scalable IoT infrastructure for utilities and smart cities. Actility’s platform enables real-time monitoring and management of energy, gas, and water usage, supporting sustainability efforts through improved efficiency and reduced waste. In 2019, Actility Energy became Flexcity, now part of the Veolia Group.

To date, Creadev has invested more than €1 billion across various stages, including venture, growth equity, and buyouts. The firm often participates in co-investments and operates with a global team of 30–50 professionals across its four offices.

3. The Cordish Companies 

With roots dating back to 1910, The Cordish Companies is a Baltimore-based single family office managing the assets of Louis Cordish and his family. In 1963, David Cordish took the reins as Chairman and CEO, ushering in a new era of growth. In 1998, the firm launched Cordish Private Ventures, its direct investment arm focused on small-cap private equity opportunities.

As a family-owned and operated business for over a century, The Cordish Companies has built a legacy of long-term, generational investments. The family is also among Baltimore’s most prominent philanthropists, known for their deep community involvement and volunteerism.

Today, the firm maintains a flexible, opportunistic investment strategy with active interests in both real estate and private equity. Key sectors include commercial and residential real estate, green energy, entertainment, gaming, hospitality, international development, restaurants, and sports. The firm also prioritizes impact investing, particularly within its real estate projects, often spearheading major revitalization efforts in cities such as Philadelphia, Houston, Kansas City, Louisville, and Atlantic City.

The Cordish Companies has a strong commitment to sustainable energy, participating in a range of alternative energy initiatives, including hydroelectric and solar projects. Their sustainability efforts span from large-scale energy-efficient systems in new developments to smaller retrofitting projects, such as LED lighting upgrades in existing properties.

The firm is also a pioneer in adaptive reuse and historic preservation, transforming abandoned urban spaces into vibrant community hubs. Signature projects such as Power Plant and Power Plant Live! in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, The Walk in Atlantic City, and Fourth Street Live! in Louisville have earned national recognition for innovation in historic rehabilitation. Working closely with public sector partners, The Cordish Companies continues to preserve and reimagine urban landmarks for future generations.