In this episode of Leaders in Cleantech, I’m joined by Adrien Pinsard, CEO of Telis Energy, a Carlyle-backed renewable energy platform targeting a 10GW development pipeline across Europe by 2030.

Adrien reflects on nearly two decades in the renewables sector, moving from private equity investor to platform builder and entrepreneur. Before launching Telis in 2022, Adrien spent 14 years investing in renewable projects at Platina Energy Partners and later served as Interim CEO of Macquarie’s 11GW European solar developer, Cero Generation.

We discuss the thinking behind Telis’ decentralised development model, with dedicated local teams operating across the UK, France, Germany and Italy, and how that structure helps navigate the realities of developing infrastructure in different markets. As Adrien explains:

“To be a successful developer, you need a very strong local presence. You have to understand communities and the local market.”

The conversation also explores how the European renewables landscape is evolving. Adrien highlights two key shifts in recent years: the growing saturation of solar in some markets, and the rapidly increasing role of battery storage, driven by falling costs and rising power market volatility.

We also discuss broader themes shaping the next phase of the energy transition, including:

The changing economics of renewable development
Why batteries and hybrid energy hubs are becoming central to projects
How grid constraints are shaping development strategy
The importance of capital discipline in a tougher investment environment
The impact of geopolitical volatility on energy security and renewable deployment

Looking ahead, Adrien sees renewables playing an increasingly important role in Europe’s energy resilience:

“Renewables are very well placed to provide energy security. Once the assets are in the ground, they’re homegrown.”

Finally, Adrien reflects on the entrepreneurial journey of building a platform from scratch, and the importance of trust and culture when building teams across multiple markets.

Adrien Pinsard:

Adrien Pinsard has a 17-year track record of renewable energy investment and development.

Prior to founding Telis, Adrien was Interim CEO of the Macquarie Group 11GW European solar energy developer, Cero Generation. Adrien spent 14 years at Platina Energy Partners, led the energy team as a partner and deployed €1bn in renewables

About Telis:

Telis seeks to play a significant role in the European energy transition targeting a 10GW renewable energy pipeline by 2030 delivered through subsidiaries across Europe’s key markets. Backed by The Carlyle Group, Telis couples the scale and synergy of an international platform with an emphasis on local knowledge and networks, sector expertise and an entrepreneurial mindset to capture emerging opportunities across the green energy segments.

Social links:

Adrien Pinsardon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrien-pinsard-5b77471a/
Telis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/telis-energy1/
Telis website: https://telisenergy.com/

Episode Links:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership - Patrick M. Lencioni

https://amzn.eu/d/0dyAuxb9

About Hyperion Search:

At Hyperion Search, we specialize in building world-class teams for the cleantech and energy transition sectors. We focus on leadership roles but also recruit strategically critical individual contributors who drive business grow