Best Renewable Energy Stocks for September 2025
So I’ve been looking at renewable energy stocks lately, and honestly? The sector’s been all over the place this year. Some companies are crushing it, others are getting hammered by tariffs and supply chain issues. But here’s what I’m seeing – the long-term story is still incredibly strong.
The numbers don’t lie. The U.S. is projected to go from 481 gigawatts of renewable capacity now to 893 gigawatts by 2032. That’s basically doubling in seven years. Solar’s expected to make up nearly half of all renewable generation by next year. Wind keeps setting records. And with $115 billion in federal clean energy investments flowing through 2025, there’s real money backing this transition.
But here’s the thing – not all renewable energy stocks are created equal. Some are solid, profitable businesses with real competitive advantages. Others are just riding the green wave with no actual substance. Let me walk you through the ones that have caught my attention.
NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE)
NextEra is basically the gold standard in renewable energy investing. They’re the largest utility in the U.S., serving almost 6 million accounts in Florida, but what really gets me excited is their renewable energy arm.
They’ve got over 37 gigawatts of generation capacity across wind, solar, nuclear, and gas. Their “Real Zero” plan aims to eliminate carbon emissions by 2045, and they’re actually putting money behind it – not just talking about it like some companies.
What I like is they’ve got both sides covered. The regulated utility business provides steady, predictable cash flow, while the renewable development side gives them growth. They just announced a comprehensive four-year rate settlement in Florida that limits bill increases to 2% annually while giving them regulatory clarity through 2029.
The stock’s been solid but not spectacular – up modestly this year while paying a dividend they’ve increased for 30 straight years. At around $70-75 per share, it’s not cheap but it’s not crazy expensive either.
First Solar, Inc. (FSLR)
First Solar’s been having a rough year, down over 40%, but that might actually be creating an opportunity. They make thin-film solar panels specifically for utility-scale projects – the big solar farms, not rooftop residential stuff.
The company’s got some real advantages. Their panels work better in hot climates and have a smaller environmental footprint to manufacture. Plus they’re one of the few solar manufacturers with significant U.S. production, which matters a lot with all the trade tensions around Chinese solar panels.
The challenges are real though. They identified some manufacturing issues with modules produced in 2023-2024 that could cost them $56-100 million. They also had to lower their 2025 sales target from 18-20 gigawatts to 15.5-19.3 gigawatts.
But here’s what I’m thinking – at current levels, a lot of the bad news is already priced in. They’ve got contracts to sell panels through 2030, which gives them solid visibility. And with the Inflation Reduction Act favoring domestic manufacturing, they’re positioned well if the U.S. keeps pushing for energy independence.
Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH) – The Risky One
Enphase has been absolutely destroyed this year – down 68% – which either makes it a screaming buy or a value trap. They make microinverters that go on individual solar panels, plus home battery storage systems.
The bull case is pretty compelling. They’re the leader in residential solar equipment, and as more people add solar and batteries to their homes, Enphase should benefit. Their Q1 2025 results were actually decent – revenue up 35% year-over-year, driven by battery sales in Europe.
The bear case is that demand has slowed in key markets. Europe’s been weak, partly because utility rates there don’t make solar as attractive. The company’s also exposed to tariff risks since they source battery cells from China.
This one’s definitely higher risk, higher reward. If residential solar takes off again, Enphase could recover fast. But if the market stays weak, there’s probably more downside.
GE Vernova (GEV) – The Infrastructure Play
GE Vernova is the energy business that got spun out of General Electric last year. They do gas turbines, wind turbines, and grid infrastructure – basically all the stuff you need to generate and distribute power.
What’s interesting is they’re not just pure renewables. They’ve got a big gas power business that provides the backup power needed when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. As we add more renewable capacity, we actually need more flexible gas plants to balance the grid.
The stock’s been volatile but the business fundamentals look solid. Revenue was up 8% in Q3, though they’re dealing with some cost inflation and supply chain issues in the wind division.
I think of this as a picks-and-shovels play. Regardless of exactly which renewable technologies win, we’re going to need more grid infrastructure and backup power. GE Vernova provides both.
Brookfield Renewable Partners (BEP) – The Income Play
Brookfield’s got a global portfolio of hydroelectric, wind, and solar assets. What I like about them is they focus on long-term contracted cash flows – basically, they build renewable projects and sign 20-year power purchase agreements.
They’ve been growing their dividend at about 6% annually for the past 20 years, which is pretty impressive consistency. The current yield is around 5-6%, depending on when you look.
The business model makes sense to me. Renewable energy projects generate very predictable cash flows once they’re built. Brookfield’s good at finding these opportunities globally and financing them efficiently.
It’s not going to be a huge growth story, but if you want steady income with some upside from the renewable transition, this could work.
What About the Risks?
Let me be real about what could go wrong. The biggest risk is policy changes. A lot of these companies depend on tax credits and subsidies. If those get reduced or eliminated, it could hurt profitability.
Trade wars are another issue. Solar panels, battery components, wind turbine parts – a lot of this stuff comes from China. If tariffs escalate, costs could spike.
Interest rates matter too. These are capital-intensive businesses, so higher borrowing costs can hurt project economics. Though with the Fed likely to cut rates, that might actually be a tailwind.
My Take
I think we’re still in the early innings of the renewable energy transition. The technology keeps getting better and cheaper, governments are pushing for clean energy, and corporations are making net-zero commitments they actually have to meet.
But timing matters. Some of these stocks have already run up a lot over the past few years. Others have been beaten down and might offer better entry points.
If I had to pick one, I’d probably go with NextEra for the combination of stability and growth. But honestly, this might be a sector where you’re better off spreading your bets across a few different companies rather than trying to pick the single winner.
The clean energy transition is happening. The question is which companies will benefit most – and whether you can stomach the volatility along the way.
