Introduction to Project Finance Modeling

Course Content

This course is designed to provide participants with knowledge of the core concepts that impact investments and debt structuring for project finance transactions. The program focuses on explaining the most important topics and modeling techniques such that students understand the many moving parts of a deal and how all the pieces tie together. Course participants will build an annual transaction model and complete case studies in that model to evaluate a renewable energy project finance transaction.

The Intro to Project Finance course is designed for beginning modelers and individuals who may not build models every day but for whom an understanding of project finance models and concepts is critical to decision making. The course utilizes a model for a solar or wind project but covers a broad set of topics such that it is also suitable for those in other project finance sectors like power or mining.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the Introduction to Project Finance Modeling course for, and do I need finance experience?

Pivotal180’s Introduction to Project Finance Modeling is designed for beginning modelers and people who don’t build models every day, including students looking to enter project finance and analysts, associates and VPs at banks, funds and developers. There are no prerequisites other than a basic knowledge of, and access to, Excel.

What is project finance modeling, and how is it different from corporate financial modeling?

Project finance modeling forecasts the cash flows of a single project, such as a wind farm, solar plant or toll road, over its whole life to work out how much debt the project can support and what returns equity investors will earn.

Corporate financial modeling looks at a whole company and its three financial statements. In project finance, the lenders are repaid from the project’s own cash flows, so the model focuses on contracts, operating assumptions, debt sizing and the cash flow waterfall.

How long does the Introduction to Project Finance Modeling course take?

The live streaming course runs as 5 sessions of 3 hours over 3 to 4 weeks. The self-paced online course can be started at any time and includes 12 months of access, so you can work through it at your own pace.

What will I build in the Introduction to Project Finance Modeling course?

You will build an annual project finance transaction model and use case studies to evaluate a renewable energy (solar or wind) project finance transaction. Topics include term loans, DSCR and WACC, debt sculpting and sizing, generation and the grid, operations and PPA pricing, depreciation and tax, and US tax credits.

How many CPD hours does Introduction to Project Finance Modeling earn?

Introduction to Project Finance Modeling is CPD accredited and equivalent to 18 CPD hours. It also includes a Pivotal180 course completion certificate.

Course Previews

Introduction to Project Finance Modeling Course Overview

Changing Scenario Input From Any Sheet

What is Project Finance