Peter Giller, beloved father, family man, and highly respected executive in the Princeton, New Jersey area, who was a leader in the power generation industry, passed away on November 2, 2024, at the age of 82. Over his remarkable 50-year career, Peter was an engineering pioneer and often an unconventional figure devoted to advancing energy solutions and reshaping the landscape of power generation. He will be greatly missed.
Born on February 17, 1942 and raised in Hameln, Germany, Peter pursued a dual degree in electrotechnical and mechanical engineering in Kassel. In January 1960, he met the lovely Renate, his future wife, whom he married in 1966 at the historic Ruderverein Weser rowing club in Hameln. In 1969, Peter accepted a position with Westinghouse Electric in Philadelphia, PA, and he and Renate traveled to the United States by ocean liner from Le Havre, France, still learning English en route. Initially planning to stay only two years, Peter and Renate ultimately immigrated to the U.S. and built a family together with the births of their son, Oliver, and daughter, Michelle.
Peter joined ABB and moved to Princeton, NJ, in 1976, where he eventually rose to President of ABB Energy Ventures, overseeing the global development, ownership, and operation of power plants. In 2000, Peter became the CEO of International Power (now ENGIE), Europe’s largest independent power producer, and relocated with Renate to London, England. They made their home near the iconic Tower of London. He later became an advisor for Blackstone, spearheading Germany’s first project-financed offshore wind farm, Meerwind Süd Ost. As Chairman of A&A EIC, he contributed to international energy investments, and more recently, Peter explored innovative technology in green ammonia production with Fuella in Norway, expanding his legacy in sustainable energy solutions.
Outside of his impactful career, Peter was a devoted sailor and skier with a profound love for family, adventure, and travel. He was a member of the Seaside Park Yacht Club and actively participated in the Flying Scott fleet’s Sunday Race Series. His sailing adventures spanned from St. Martin, the Greek Islands, the Mediterranean, Baja California, Canada’s Desolation Sound, Nantucket, to the British Virgin Islands, often with family and friends. Peter and Renate were active and devoted members of the Lutheran Church of the Messiah in Princeton.
Son of the late Karoline and Eduard Giller, Peter was predeceased by his wife Renate Giller, his son Oliver Giller, and his brother Eduard Giller. He is survived by his daughter Michelle Clark and son-in-law Ted Clark of Seattle, WA; daughter-in-law Susanne Giller of Pennington, NJ; grandchildren Tagg Clark, Maika Clark, Alexander Giller, and Julia Giller; brother Günter Giller and sister-in-law Christa Giller of St. Augustine, Germany; and sister-in-law Dagmar Giller of Hameln, Germany; as well as nieces and nephews Jessica Giller, Nicola Gantert, Jens Giller, and Heike Müller.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 11, 2024, at the Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 407 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ, concluding with burial at Princeton Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.