Leading Voices in Real Estate Dave Riess | Co-Founder & CEO Wunder Power
Aug 21, 2025
Dave Riess, Co-Founder & CEO of Wunder Power, discusses the transformative energy transition in commercial real estate. He shares insights on the potential of solar energy and battery storage as pivotal solutions for sustainable properties. Riess emphasizes innovative financing strategies and the importance of strong customer relationships. The conversation also highlights the critical role of batteries in energy management, challenges for data centers, and advocates for market-driven solutions to enhance sustainability in real estate.
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Vertical Integration Solves Repeatability
- Vertically integrate if financing third-party developers creates friction and reduces repeat business.
- Own and finance your projects to align incentives and deliver a consistent customer experience.
Solar Usually Translates To Lease Income
- The product for owners is NOI uplift, usually delivered as a roof lease rather than direct asset sale.
- Many institutional owners prefer lease income because energy asset ownership may not fit their capital mandates.
Hundreds Of Assets And Rapid Growth
- Wunder oversees many hundreds of operating assets and will be under construction on ~100 assets in parallel this year.
- That operating history gives them performance data to validate underwriting and development standards.
