innogy announces key US appointments ahead of New York renewables expo

innogy SE took important strategic decisions to develop renewable activities in the US with founding its subsidiary Innogy US Renewable Projects LLC in August 2016. Today the company based in Chicago has announced the appointment of two US representatives ahead of the US Offshore Wind 2017 event in New York on the 8th of May.

Chris Wissemann, who has worked in the US energy industry for more than three decades, will be joining the innogy renewables team to develop the offshore wind business in the US. Richard Grosdidier compliments the innogy US management team with his knowledge in regards to the acquisition, development and financing of large-scale solar projects. The duo are supported by innogy’s representative for onshore wind, Andrew Young, based in the US since late 2016.

“We have considerable experience in developing projects and in designing, constructing and operating renewables assets both independently, and together with project partners and investors. The US market is one of our key strategic growth areas and we believe that our experience and expertise can help realise the country’s renewables potential. With our two new US representatives, who will be discussing business developments and partnering opportunities for offshore wind and solar stateside, we have made a major step in this direction,” says Hans Bünting, Chief Operating Officer Renewables of innogy SE

innogy is Germany’s leading energy company, with revenue of around €44 billion (2016), more than 40,000 employees and activities in 16 countries across Europe. With its three business segments Renewables, Grid & Infrastructure and Retail, innogy addresses the requirements of a modern, decarbonised, decentralised and digital energy world. To grow the renewables business innogy intends to invest between €1.5 billion and €1.7 billion from 2017 to 2019.

Background Information

Chris Wissemann, has worked in the US energy industry for more than three decades and has extensive experience of developing, financing, packaging and investing in power infrastructure projects – from renewable energy, to combined cycle to transmission. As Managing Director of New Power Ventures Chris worked with a number of organisations and renewable projects with a view to increasing their value, shortening development timelines and connecting projects investors.

Richard Grosdidier has worked many years in the energy and solar industry in the US and Asia and has extensive experience in sourcing, bidding, acquisition, financing and the closing of Solar projects. Most recently as Senior Vice President of NRG Solar LLC/NRG Renew (NRG Energy Inc.) he led the acquisition and development of large scale solar projects with in total more than 1,800 MW installed capacity in the US. Richard recently joined Innogy US Renewable Projects LLC with responsibility for starting and building the US utility scale solar business. He holds a Juris Doctor & MBA from the University of Dayton and a BS in Finance from Wilkes University.

Richard Sandford leads the Offshore Wind Investment & Asset Management business for the renewables segment at innogy SE, with specific responsibility for all offshore wind assets and investments. This includes identifying and securing new business opportunities along with the development, construction and operation of innogy’s entire offshore wind portfolio. Richard has worked in the electricity generation industry for the last 29 years and has extensive experience including not only renewables and offshore wind, but also thermal generation and CHP.