Luxury Magnate Zaya Younan Makes Bold Leap into Renewable Energy

LOS ANGELES, CA – January 30, 2026 – Zaya Younan, a global business leader whose name is synonymous with luxury real estate, European castle hotels, and premium cigars, has announced a surprising and monumental pivot: a strategic entry into the utility-scale renewable energy sector. Through a new entity, Soleil Renewable Energy, LLC, Younan is launching the development of what is slated to be one of California’s largest solar and battery storage power plants, a multi-billion-dollar venture that starkly contrasts with his established empire of tangible luxury and leisure.

The announcement positions the visionary entrepreneur at the intersection of high finance, advanced technology, and pressing environmental mandates. It represents a high-stakes wager that the skills honed in building a diversified portfolio of tangible assets can be translated to the complex, capital-intensive world of green energy infrastructure.

From Vineyards to Gigawatts: A Strategic Pivot

For decades, the Younan Company has built a reputation for acquiring and elevating assets in sectors known for prestige and craftsmanship. The company's portfolio includes Class-A office buildings, historic castle hotels in France's Loire Valley, championship golf courses, and premium consumer brands in wine, spirits, and cigars. This move into renewable power generation marks the most significant diversification in the company's history, venturing far from its traditional focus.

The new project is being developed under Soleil Renewable Energy, LLC. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Zaya Younan framed the move as a natural extension of his entrepreneurial philosophy.

“Innovation is not limited to one industry,” said Younan. “Whether in luxury, technology, or energy, the objective is the same — to build world-class assets that endure, elevate standards, and contribute positively to society. Renewable energy represents both an economic opportunity and a responsibility for future generations.”

While the vision is clear, this leap places Younan in a field where he and his company have no established public track record. The development of utility-scale power plants is a notoriously complex endeavor, requiring deep expertise in energy policy, grid engineering, environmental permitting, and specialized project finance—a stark departure from the worlds of hospitality and commercial real estate.

Unpacking the Soleil Power Plant

The project at the heart of this new venture is immense in scope. Located on approximately 3,200 acres of owned land in East Kern County—a region known as one of North America’s most attractive solar corridors—the Soleil facility is designed to be a powerhouse of clean energy.

The plans call for an 880-megawatt direct current (MWdc) solar farm, which translates to 700 MW of alternating current (MWac) capacity deliverable to the grid. This solar generation will be paired with a substantial 460 MW battery energy storage system. This integration is critical, allowing the plant to store solar energy generated during the day and dispatch it during evening hours when demand peaks and the sun isn't shining, directly addressing one of the key challenges of intermittent renewable sources.

The press release claims the facility will become “one of the top five largest power-generating solar facilities in the State of California.” While its 700 MWac solar capacity would indeed rank it among the state’s largest currently operational solar farms—surpassing giants like the 579 MW Solar Star project—the renewable energy landscape is evolving at a breakneck pace. For context, the recently completed Edwards & Sanborn project, also in Kern County, boasts 875 MWdc of solar and a far larger 3,287 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery system. Furthermore, other planned developments, like Intersect Power’s Darden project, aim for even greater capacities, highlighting the fierce competition to build at scale.

Navigating California's Crowded Energy Landscape

Developing a project of this magnitude in California is a formidable challenge, fraught with regulatory and logistical hurdles. The project's success will hinge on navigating the state's notoriously complex energy ecosystem.

One of the project's most strategic elements is its dual-grid interconnection strategy. Soleil Renewable Energy is advancing in the interconnection process with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which manages most of the state's grid, while also pursuing a parallel connection with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). This approach could enhance reliability and provide crucial commercial flexibility by opening up multiple pathways to sell power.

However, the path to interconnection is long and uncertain. The CAISO queue is famously backlogged, with hundreds of gigawatts of proposed projects waiting for approval. In 2024, the average time for a new project to move through the queue and become operational was over nine years. The project’s ambitious timeline—targeting commercial operation by mid-2028 and aiming to be “shovel-ready” within 18 months of completing environmental reviews—will test its ability to navigate this bottleneck efficiently.

The permitting process itself, governed by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is another significant hurdle for a 3,200-acre development, often involving years of studies, public hearings, and potential legal challenges.

The High-Stakes Financial Equation

Financially, the project's projections are as ambitious as its engineering. The company forecasts approximately $100 million in annual gross revenue upon reaching full capacity. More strikingly, it anticipates an EBITDA margin near 85%, a figure that is exceptionally high for any infrastructure project. While renewable assets benefit from low operating costs once built, achieving such a margin would likely require securing highly favorable long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) with utilities or corporate buyers, in addition to flawless operational efficiency.

The project is underpinned by a strong asset base, with 3,200 acres of land already owned and appraised. However, securing the final construction financing, which will run into the billions of dollars, will depend on finalizing permits and locking in offtake agreements for the power it will generate.

Ultimately, the venture is a calculated response to powerful market forces. California's legal mandate to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2045, coupled with the explosive energy demand driven by data centers, artificial intelligence, and the electrification of transport, creates a compelling, long-term case for massive clean energy projects. The success of the Soleil facility could not only help power California's green transition but also redefine Zaya Younan's legacy, transforming him from a purveyor of earthly luxuries to a titan of sustainable energy.