Best Energy Companies in Illinois, United States
The 238 best Energy companies in Illinois, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Invenergy.
Our analysis of 171 Energy companies
$71.4b in tracked funding; 82% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Energy companies in Illinois
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Invenergy Developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions 64Funding top 22%Tech top 37%Growth top 40%Market top 43% All 8 signals ▾Fundingtop 22% Techtop 37% Growthtop 40% Markettop 43% Newstop 43% Talenttop 46% Moattop 48% Globalbottom 39% Funding: Raised $575M across 6 rounds · 6 rounds over 17 yrs (0.4/yr) Tech: 29 technologies across 4/8 capability areas · Cloud: Cloudflare, Vercel rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 64/100 | $575M | 17 mo ago | 1,276 1,276 → 2,477 (+94%) | Jim Murphy Co-Founder | ContentstackApple iCloud MailNode.js+21 | — | 1 internship · 1 partnership |
| 2 | GreatPoint Energy Provider of online gambling and gaming services | $562M | 172 mo ago | 35 | Andrew Perlman Founder | — | 325 patents Hydromethanation and catalytic gasification converting carbon feedstocks to methane/methanol. | — |
| 3 | Aventine Renewable Energy Bio ethanol producer and marketer | $275M | 245 mo ago | 201 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Brite Energy Offers solar installation services | $264M | 137 mo ago | — | Tim Whall CEO | — | — | — |
| 5 | Broadwind Energy Heavy fabrications, gearing, and industrial solutions provider for diverse industries | $187M | 87 mo ago | 492 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+21 | — | — |
| 6 | Amp Americas Developer of renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy farm waste | $157M | 15 mo ago | 16 | Steve Josephs Co-Founder | Squarespace CommerceSquarespaceTypeScript+17 | — | — |
| 7 | ADCO Global Manufacturer of solar PV panels | $100M | 327 mo ago | — | Bernd Helfrich Managing Director | — | — | — |
| 8 | Advanced BioEnergy Developer of data-driven solutions for social impact organizations | $98M | 192 mo ago | 4 | Richard Peterson Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | — | — | — |
| 9 | Lakeview Energy Producer of biofuels | $50M | 61 mo ago | — | Jim Galvin CEO | — | — | — |
| 10 | Aquilon Energy Services Developer of financial settlement software solution | $47M | 95 mo ago | 25 | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Firefly International Energy Provider of lead-acid battery technologies | $29M | 216 mo ago | 8 | Mukesh Bhandari Founder | Google MapsW3.CSSAnimate.css+18 | 35 patents Advanced lead‑acid battery plates and carbon‑foam current collector technologies | — |
| 12 | GTL Resources Bioethanol manufacturer and sellers | $26M | 175 mo ago | — | Sunil Narula Owner | — | — | — |
| 13 | Exelon Provider of energy services with an electric and natural gas distribution | $20M | 85 mo ago | 466 | Chris Crane CEO | DrupalApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+28 | 7 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | — |
| 14 | Carey Electric Contracting Provider of installation and repairing services of electrical equipment | $17M | 72 mo ago | 42 | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Lincoln Clean Energy Leading American renewable energy company developing and operating wind, solar, and storage projects | $14M | 101 mo ago | 18 | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | PowerOne Supplier contractor and licensed power marketer for natural gas & electricity | $11M | 105 mo ago | — | George Wahbeh CEO & President | — | — | — |
| 17 | Cultivate Power It is a distributed solar and storage project developer focused on strengthening communities, the grid, and… | $10M | 32 mo ago | — | Noah Hyte Managing Director | — | — | 5 job openings |
| 18 | ANS Provider of nuclear society | $9M | 6 mo ago | 37 | Craig Piercy CEO | Apple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365Salesforce+10 | — | 1 award |
| 19 | Izar Solar Manufacturer of solar powered products | $5M | 150 mo ago | — | David Ahmari CEO | — | — | — |
| 20 | Power 1 Energy Supplier of electricity | $4M | 36 mo ago | — | Ed Jenks CEO | — | 198 patents High‑voltage power distribution hardware and modular enclosure/cabinet systems for utilities | — |
| 21 | Switchboard Apparatus Provider of electrical distribution solutions to businesses | $3M | 149 mo ago | 51 | Brad Bell CEO & President | DudaApple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365+14 | 7 patents Design and manufacture of medium‑voltage switchgear enclosures and associated insulators. | 6 job openings · 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 22 | Terravesta Manufacturer of plastic processing and recycling machinery | $3M | 57 mo ago | 15 | — | WordPress Block EditorWordPressApple iCloud Mail+24 | — | — |
| 23 | Argonne National Laboratory Provider of science and engineering research national laboratory service | $2M | 186 mo ago | 4,706 | — | DrupalPHPMathJax+18 | — | — |
| 24 | Haland Energy Exploration and development company | $2M | 146 mo ago | — | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | Energy CX Provider of biofuel technology and energy consulting services | $2M | 15 mo ago | 47 | — | — | 1,199 patents Patents concentrated in construction | 1 job opening · 3 awards |
| 26 | Trajectory Energy Partners Solar‑development company that focuses on building community‑scale and utility‑scale solar projects | $2M | 106 mo ago | 22 | Josh Bushinsky Co-Founder | — | — | — |
| 27 | Richmond Chemical Corporation Company enagegd in the development of biofuels, small molecules and nanomedicines | $846K | 202 mo ago | — | Sunil Srivastava Founder & CEO | — | 27 patents Patents concentrated in chemistry & materials | — |
| 28 | CNGmotive CNG distribution company | $703K | 83 mo ago | 7 | Pedro Santos Co-Founder | — | 31 patents Hydrogen-powered rail/vehicle power generation and safety systems for fuel storage | — |
| 29 | Effimax Solar Provider of solar power systems, equipment, technology, and related services | $150K | 161 mo ago | — | Rui Cai CEO | — | — | — |
| 30 | Graham Enterprise Distributor of petroleum products | $123K | 84 mo ago | 99 | Patrick Graham Owner & Principal | WordPressMySQLPHP+18 | — | — |
Top 12 Energy companies in Illinois
#1
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2000 · 1276 employees$575Mraised▾
Developer and operator of sustainable energy solutions
- Jan 2025Series D—
- Aug 2023Conventional Debt$1.5B
- Jun 2023Series D—
- Jan 2022Series D—
#2
Acquired · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2011 · 16 employees$156.8Mraised▾
Developer of renewable natural gas (RNG) from dairy farm waste. This company develops and operates on-farm dairy RNG projects, sources and markets RNG to large fleet customers, and partners with dairy farmers to increase ultra-low carbon intensity gas production. The company received certification for its dairy waste-to-vehicle fuel pathway and achieved a low carbon intensity score. Its business model focuses on converting agricultural waste into a sustainable transportation fuel.
- Feb 2025Grant (prize money)$53.9K
- Jul 2019Series B$75M
- Aug 2017Series B$47M
- Jul 2014Series A$32M
#3
Funding Raised · La Grange Park, Illinois · founded 1954 · 37 employees$9Mraised▾
Provider of nuclear society
- Nov 2025Grant (prize money)$2M
- Oct 2025Grant (prize money)$2M
- Jun 2025Grant (prize money)$395.7K
- May 2025Grant (prize money)$209.8K
#4
Seed · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2005 · 47 employees$1.9Mraised▾
Provider of biofuel technology and energy consulting services
- Mar 2025Seed$1.9M
- Mar 2025Conventional Debt—
#5
Series D · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2004 · 35 employees$562Mraised▾
Provider of online gambling and gaming services. It offers a variety of games including casino games, fish shooting games, cockfighting, lottery, and esports betting. The platform features advanced security measures and a user-friendly interface. It aims to provide a secure, fair, and transparent gaming experience for its users. The company holds a license from PAGCOR, a Philippine gaming regulator.
- Feb 2012Series D$420M
- Nov 2009Series C$5M
- Sep 2007Series C$100M
- May 2006Series B$30M
#6
Public · Cicero, Illinois · founded 2007 · 492 employees$186.7Mraised▾
Heavy fabrications, gearing, and industrial solutions provider for diverse industries. The company specializes in heavy fabrication, industrial gears and gearboxes, heat treatment, CNG decompression, procurement and supply chain solutions, kitting and assembly, material handling, and design for manufacturing. Serving markets like power generation, mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, virtual pipeline, heavy construction, infrastructure, defense, steel, marine, and paper and pulp, the company offers full-scope manufacturing of heavy industrial components, structures, and equipment. They provide advanced gear and gearbox solutions, precision kitting and assembly, and engineering expertise to optimize component designs. The company is a diversified manufacturer supporting leading OEMs, offering a single source for full-scope manufacturing. They are certified to the highest standards in manufacturing, fabrication, welding, industrial gearing, and electromechanical assembly.
- Feb 2019Conventional Debt$35M
- Jul 2008Post IPO$6M
- Jul 2008Post IPO$10.5M
- Feb 2008Post IPO$13.8M
#7
Deadpooled · Romeoville, Illinois · founded 2014$264.2Mraised▾
Brite Energy offers solar installation services to residential and commercial spaces. The company is backed by Protection 1 (USA's full-service security company) and co-owned by GTCR (a $11 billion Chicago-based private equity fund),
- Jan 2015PE$250M
- Jun 2014Series A$14.2M
#8
Acquired · Pekin, Illinois · founded 2003 · 201 employees$275.4Mraised▾
Aventine Renewable Energy manufactures and markets ethanol which can be used as a renewable fuel. It engages in the production and marketing of corn-based fuel-grade ethanol and co-products such as distillers grain, corn gluten meal and feed, corn oil, corn germ and grain distillers dried yeast. On July 1, 2015, Pacific Ethanol acquired Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings and its subsidiaries.
- Jan 2006Series D$275.3M
- Dec 2004Seed—
- Mar 2004Seed$50K
#9
Series A · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2008$10Mraised▾
It is a distributed solar and storage project developer that focuses on strengthening communities, the grid, and climate stability. They develop distributed energy resources and are committed to clean energy infrastructure in emerging community solar markets.
- Oct 2023Series A$10M
#10
Funding Raised · Chicago, Illinois · founded 2010$50Mraised▾
Producer of biofuels
- May 2021Conventional Debt$50M
#11
Deadpooled · Bloomington, Illinois · founded 2005 · 4 employees$97.6Mraised▾
Developer of data-driven solutions for social impact organizations. It offers web-based tools for donor, grant, and project management, including features for project mapping, reporting, and compliance. A no-code platform facilitates smart data collection, visualization, and dashboard creation. Additionally, it provides customizable data visualization and analytics solutions with user-friendly dashboards and real-time insights. A configurable e-learning platform allows for the delivery and tracking of tailored courses. Custom software development and AI-driven tools are also available to streamline operations and enhance engagement.
- Jun 2010Series B$10.3M
- Dec 2009Series A$7.7M
- Nov 1899Conventional Debt$79.5M
#12
Acquired · Lincolnshire, Illinois · founded 1999$100Mraised▾
Manufacturer of solar PV panels
- Mar 1999Unattributed—
- Conventional Debt$100M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Energy coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Energy Storage in Illinois is moving
A read on the academic research around Energy Storage in Illinois — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 123 papers.
UIUC, IIT, and UIC lead Illinois's optimistically-toned (mean 0.55) energy-storage research, dominated by advanced battery materials and technologies across 123 papers, mostly post-2020.
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign42
- Illinois Institute of Technology41
- University of Illinois Chicago18
- Northern Illinois University10
- Illinois State University4
- Electrolyte1→12
- Electrochemistry1→12
- Battery (electricity)2→9
- Anode1→6
- Supercapacitor1→4
- Renewable energy3→14
- Battery (electricity)4→10
- Electric power system3→7
- Grid1→5
- Electricity generation1→3
- Electrolyte4
- Hydrogen storage3
- Nanotechnology2
- Renewable energy2
- Electric power system2
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.