This is a bundle of these 2 courses
About this course
After enrolling, we recommend starting with Keith Cronin's "Inside the Solar Executive MBA Deal Room" course. It's full of contracts and financial models and lessons to get you off to a fast start.
Subjects covered
Solar
Marketing and Sales
Energy Finance
Bundle outline
2 courses
35 - 50 hours to complete
Course 1 •
8
modules
Inside the Solar Executive MBA Data Room
Course 1 •
8
modules
Inside the Solar Executive MBA Data Room
Welcome • 5 assignments
Orientation Materials
Welcome • 5 assignments
Orientation Materials
This course is self-paced, so you don’t need to be logged in at any specific time. You can get started immediately after you enroll and the course materials will remain in your account with minimum guaranteed access for 12 months (1 year) after enrollment.
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Module 1 • 10 assignments
Financial Modeling - Introduction
Module 1 • 10 assignments
Financial Modeling - Introduction
This is the economic evaluation of a project as a first gating item.
We often use this a the first step in seeing if a project makes sense or not to build or if an investor would be interested in.
We often use this a the first step in seeing if a project makes sense or not to build or if an investor would be interested in.
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Module 2 • 6 assignments
Development Services Agreement - What is it?
Module 2 • 6 assignments
Development Services Agreement - What is it?
This is the intro into the DSA.
It is a high level overview the parties relationships with each other and how this mechanism works.
We're not providing legal, tax or accounting advice in this video or anywhere in this course, but go over the commercial conditions in which these deals are structures.
It is a high level overview the parties relationships with each other and how this mechanism works.
We're not providing legal, tax or accounting advice in this video or anywhere in this course, but go over the commercial conditions in which these deals are structures.
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Module 3 • 19 assignments
EPC Agreement
Module 3 • 19 assignments
EPC Agreement
In this module, we will walk you through an EPC agreement and provide you with a template. We're not providing legal advice, but more going through commercial terms that EPC's and developers work through daily.
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Module 4 • 7 assignments
Operations and Maintenance Agreement
Module 4 • 7 assignments
Operations and Maintenance Agreement
In this module, we'll go over the details of the O&M agreement through the lens of the developer looking to subcontract the work to an EPC or a 3rd party O&M provider.
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Module 5 • 12 assignments
SSA/PPA Agreement
Module 5 • 12 assignments
SSA/PPA Agreement
We have known for decades the idea of a PPA- Power Purchase Agreement. They have gotten more nuances to be a SSA- Solar Services Agreement. There are also ESA- Energy Services Agreements for storage.
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Module 6 • 10 assignments
MIPA - Membership Interest Purchase Agreement
Module 6 • 10 assignments
MIPA - Membership Interest Purchase Agreement
This is a standard agreement in the solar industry.
Consult your legal counsel for feedback on this agreement, as we aren't offering legal advice.
Consult your legal counsel for feedback on this agreement, as we aren't offering legal advice.
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Module 7 • 5 assignments
Data Room Example
Module 7 • 5 assignments
Data Room Example
This is for Google Drive.
You can see the folder structure as a guide.
You can see the folder structure as a guide.
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Module 8 • 4 assignments
2 Case Studies for Solar Projects - CA & RI
Module 8 • 4 assignments
2 Case Studies for Solar Projects - CA & RI
In this module, you will use all of the things you've learned in this course to answer the questions in the case studies.
One project is in California and the other is in Rhode Island.
They each have different goals and characteristics for you to solve for.
You will utilize the Financial models to start, then think through interconnection, EPC agreements and the Operations and Maintenance costs. In addition, think through the Operating Expenses as this is essential.
They are in PowerPoint and can be submitted in PPTX and any additional supporting collateral to show your work and how you arrived at your conclusions. This includes the actual Financial model, the PPTX, and a Word doc if needed.
One project is in California and the other is in Rhode Island.
They each have different goals and characteristics for you to solve for.
You will utilize the Financial models to start, then think through interconnection, EPC agreements and the Operations and Maintenance costs. In addition, think through the Operating Expenses as this is essential.
They are in PowerPoint and can be submitted in PPTX and any additional supporting collateral to show your work and how you arrived at your conclusions. This includes the actual Financial model, the PPTX, and a Word doc if needed.
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Conclusion • 4 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 4 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
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Course 2 •
6
modules
Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects
Course 2 •
6
modules
Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects
Module 1 • 4 assignments
U.S. Policy Updates
Module 1 • 4 assignments
U.S. Policy Updates
If you live in the United States, then you've heard about some big clean energy policy changes for 2026. Those policy changes impact some of the content for this course. But most of what we cover does not change in any meaningful way. Financial modeling and understanding how a project comes together is meant to be a durable skill that can be adapted as the market dynamics change.
Let's start with a couple assignments to review federal policy updates for residential and commercial PV. Understanding these policy changes will help you speak intelligently about what is - and is not - changing.
Let's start with a couple assignments to review federal policy updates for residential and commercial PV. Understanding these policy changes will help you speak intelligently about what is - and is not - changing.
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Module 2 • 9 assignments
Introduction to Modeling
Module 2 • 9 assignments
Introduction to Modeling
TOPICS: General Principles, Good Practices, Important Functions, Formulas, Commands & Techniques.
HOMEWORK: Create a Lease vs. Buy Calculator for Any Project Site
HOMEWORK: Create a Lease vs. Buy Calculator for Any Project Site
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Module 3 • 10 assignments
Understanding Key Concepts
Module 3 • 10 assignments
Understanding Key Concepts
TOPICS: Tax Benefits: ITC & Depreciation, Reflecting State Taxes & Incentives, Working with Leverage, Understanding P95 & Insolation. HOMEWORK: Create a Debt Module for Amortizing & Sculpted Loans using template.
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Module 4 • 8 assignments
Modeling and Analysis, Part 1
Module 4 • 8 assignments
Modeling and Analysis, Part 1
TOPICS: Basic Unstructured Project Model, Buyout Calculations, Mastering IRR and NPV, Using Goal Seek for PPA Pricing.
HOMEWORK: Create an Unstructured Model of a Solar Project using the provided template
HOMEWORK: Create an Unstructured Model of a Solar Project using the provided template
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Module 5 • 10 assignments
Modeling and Analysis, Part 2
Module 5 • 10 assignments
Modeling and Analysis, Part 2
TOPICS: Using Goal Seek for PPA Pricing, Modeling Partnership Flips for Year-End and Mid-Year Flips, Analysis and Risk Management, Integrating Your Model with your Business.
HOMEWORK: Create a Partnership Flip with provided template; goal seek a PPA price.
HOMEWORK: Create a Partnership Flip with provided template; goal seek a PPA price.
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Module 6 • 1 assignments
Build and Submit Your Own Project Modeling Tool
Module 6 • 1 assignments
Build and Submit Your Own Project Modeling Tool
This is your opportunity to customize the model template from class to be used most efficiently on the projects you're working on.
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Conclusion • 2 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
Conclusion • 2 assignments
Feedback and Additional Resources
This is our last module but you still have access to the all of course materials for 12 months (1 year), so keep working and you'll be able to complete the course at your own pace. After your year of access expires you can optionally extend access with a HeatSpring Membership. Enjoy the course and keep in touch!
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Continuing Education Units
Approved for the following CEUs
- NABCEP Advanced Credit Hours
- NABCEP JTA
- NABCEP RE Elective
- NABCEP PV Associate Renewal
NABCEP Registered Provider
This course counts towards the training requirements for taking NABCEP professional certification exams and CEUs for renewing all certifications.
Instructors
Chris Lord
Managing Director, CapIron, Inc.
Christopher J. Lord is the Managing Director of CapIron, Inc., a firm focused, among other things, on helping clients plan, structure and close financings involving renewable energy projects, including Distributed Generation and Utility-Scale Projects. Mr. Lord graduated from Cornell Law School, and practiced corporate law in firms, and in-house, for over 25 years. He...
Keith Cronin
SunHedge LLC
Two plus decades of cleantech experience across the US. Blessed with a multidisciplinary skill set of development, finance, business, and deep connections globally. The road to your destiny is often a curved line. After a decade on the East Coast, it catapulted me to Hawaii to start a solar company. Along with that fortuitous experience, I was mentored locally and...
Frequently asked questions
Full FAQHow does this course work?
This bundle of courses is delivered entirely online. After you enroll, the courses will be added to your Account. There's a recommended progression to follow, but you have the flexibility to access the materials in whatever order you prefer. Pre-order courses are available on launch date. The courses are self-paced and you can set your own schedule to complete the materials. You can begin the lecture videos and other course materials as soon as you enroll. After successfully completing the course, you will be able to generate a certificate of completion.
How long do I have access to the materials?
Students get unlimited access to the course materials as soon as they enroll and for one year (365 days) after enrollment. Rewatch videos and review assignments as many times as you want. View updates the instructor makes to the course as the industry advances. Return to your course anytime with online access from anywhere in the world. After the one year of access expires, access can be extended by joining as a HeatSpring member. A single membership extends access to course materials for all past enrollments.
Does This Course Cover Utility Scale Solar Developments?
The default inputs for the financial model are geared toward a utility scale project, but the size can be scaled up or down as required. Both utility scale and distributed generation projects are covered and the model can be used for any size project including residential, commercial and industrial scale but the examples focus primarily on utility scale. The course covers all of the principles behind utility scale and distributed generation solar. The models scale equally between them because the principles remain constant. That said, utility scale solar prices tend to be much lower (benefiting from the larger economies of scale), but this is reflected through management of the various input variables. The course and materials really are infinitely expandable.
Is This Course Relevant For International Students
Yes we get many international students who take the course. Approximately 25% of the course material is specific to the US, the rest is applicable to any country. The inputs for the financial model do focus on ITC and depreciation benefits available in US markets, but the model can be easily adapted for straight line or other depreciation methodologies, as well as differing subsidies. For the most part, we won’t cover the specific subsidies and tax treatments for countries other than the US, but the bulk of the material is readily applicable to all solar projects regardless of the country.
Will the instructor really answer my questions during this course?
Yes! This is an instructor-led online course. You can ask questions on the discussion board and get prompt answers from your instructor. It varies by instructor and by course but typically instructors check-in between daily and weekly to check quiz results or project work, review and respond to discussion board questions and read survey responses. Check the enrollment page for specific information about each instructor's check-in frequency.
Is there a certificate of completion?
Yes, when you complete a course in this bundle you are eligible for a certificate of completion from HeatSpring. You can download your certificate as soon as you have completed all of the course requirements. Students can easily share their verified certificates on their LinkedIn profiles using our LinkedIn integration.
Can I register multiple people?
Yes, please visit our For Teams page to get a group discount.
I have a background of working in a power company but since I was in the Corporate Finance side I was not directly linked with models and legal documents. Now I am in the risk side of a bank and need to know solar project financing. My drawback is very basic knowledge of Excel and has never done any modeling in excel. Do you suggest this course for me?
Thank you for your questions. I believe this course would be excellent for you, given your relevant background experience in the industry and in Finance. You should not be concerned about your lack of modeling experience with excel, the financial models used are already built, so its more a matter of understanding how to use the tools and plug in the correct variables for any given project. That being said it may not hurt to brush up on your excel skills prior to taking the course.
The instructors Chris Lord and Keith Cronin will be assisting you during the instructor-led sessions, during which they will be answering questions on the discussion board, reviewing and providing feedback on the required project work and hosting a weekly conference call. So there will be plenty of time to ask questions and they will be happy to help you along the way.
Both courses included in this certificate program are very intensive and geared towards working professionals in the solar industry. The Solar Executive MBA Training course offers some more introductory material but there may be things that are over your head, particularly in the second course, Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects.
That being said, the courses are very flexible and some people learn better having all the information and even getting a taste for what they don't know. Also the exposure to this information helps people in getting a better understanding of the language of the industry, even if not 100% of the information is absorbed.
You get access to all of the course materials as soon as you enroll, then after the instructor-led sessions end (a total of 11 weeks between the two courses) you'll continue to have access to all of the course materials for a full year and can complete the courses on your own pace and earn your certificates.