SolaREIT Spotlight: January

Valerio Lombardo

At SolaREIT, our mission to accelerate the clean energy transition is powered by a diverse team of passionate and talented individuals. Each team member is crucial in delivering innovative financing solutions to solar and battery energy storage developers and landowners. As a minority and women-owned business, we know that the unique contributions of every person on our team drive our collective success. 

This month, we’re happy to shine the spotlight on Valerio Lombardo, our Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance. Valerio brings dynamic energy to our team with his sharp analytical mind and extensive industry expertise.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

As an Electrical Engineer by training from the University of Naples in Italy, I began my career implementing financial systems across Europe and the Middle East for major energy companies. Seeking to deepen my expertise, I earned my MBA in Finance from the University of Maryland. Since then, I've built my career at the intersection of clean energy and finance, working with industry leaders including SunEdison, AES Energy Storage, and Fluence.  

What inspired you to join SolaREIT?

I discovered SolaREIT through conversations with Laura Klein, who I had worked with at Sun Edison many years ago. The company's business model immediately attracted me – for its simplicity, soundness, and growth potential. Having led finance teams that helped deploy hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy projects, I saw a unique opportunity to help solve one of the industry's key challenges. In my current role, I find great satisfaction in helping secure the capital needed to fuel the growth of solar and energy storage. 

What has been your most rewarding experience at SolaREIT?

I take pride in ensuring our management team has crystal-clear visibility into our financial results. Equally rewarding is ensuring our sales and closing teams can access the capital they need – it's crucial for maintaining our momentum and supporting our partners' success. Throughout my career, I've seen how efficient financial processes can accelerate project deployment, and that's exactly what we're building at SolaREIT. 

How do you see the future of renewable energy, and SolaREIT's role in it?

I'm very bullish about the future of clean energy. Both solar and storage have reached crucial economies of scale and achieved grid parity with carbon-heavy alternatives. Having been part of the energy storage industry's growth from its early days, I'm particularly excited about storage solutions – both standalone and combined with solar – and their potential to transform the entire electricity grid, from transmission to distribution, behind and in front of the meter. 

What has surprised you most about working at SolaREIT?

Despite being a relatively small company, we've achieved remarkable growth and impact, including major financial milestones like expanding our revolver with AUB and securing long-term debt with MetLife. What's impressed me most is how our executive team makes important decisions quickly and cohesively. Even more refreshing is that we've maintained a balanced, open, and positive company culture throughout this growth – it's truly a great place to work! 

What do you enjoy doing outside the office?

When I'm not driving my two daughters to their activities or taking long walks with my dog, I cherish time with my wife and friends. I also enjoy swimming, staying informed about global events, and watching good movies.