Executive Masters In Project Finance for Cleantech

Benefits: This program teaches participants how they can, while possibly working full time, increase their annual revenues by several hundred thousand dollars within 2 years of starting this 19 month program. Participants learn to unlock the financing of large multi-million dollar to billion dollar Cleantech/infrastructure projects in real estate, energy or transport.  Participants are shown how to put in practice techniques that will allow them to finance Cleantech projects even when banks say no, governments have no budget, subsidies or even have gone insolvent. The program uncovers how to get the necessary financing when traditional lenders such as banks are not willing or able to provide project debt. This niche program is unique in the world, and unique in its delivery as it is highly practical and the most innovative and effective program of its kind. There are no other such programs focused both on financing Cleantech and clean energy infrastructure. On top of providing practical skills, people will be able to obtain continuing education credits. Starting next year, we are aiming to provide participants who successfully complete the program with a diploma through academic partners such as some of the top ranked business and finance universities in the developed world.  

Introduction: Cleantech is a multi-trillion dollar per year opportunity (hundreds of trillions within the next decades), and clean power is now the fastest growing form of energy, with solar taking the lion's share. Large scale renewable energy (especially solar) is now cheaper than natural gas and even coal in most parts of the world. It is also a lot faster to deploy than nuclear energy. With growing concerns for out of control global warming and climate chaos, all regions of the world and sectors of the economy are now actively looking to transition from polluting and unsafe hydrocarbons with unpredictable prices to clean energy. There is also an impetus to  power our modes of transportation with electricity.  Electric vehicles (EVs) are 3 times more efficient than vehicles powered with internal combustion engines, and offer features impossible to match with traditional vehicles. From a total cost of ownership perspective over the life cycle of clean energy facilities or electric vehicles, the clean energy option is now more and more the most cost effective option, but the associated upfront capital cost is the major barrier to massive adoption of clean energy. This program addresses this problem and provides the knowledge and skills required to effectively finance these types of projects.

Credits/Time required/Level: 45 continuing education credits for the courses, plus capstone 40.5 credits. Total 760 notional hours, over 18 months. Graduate Level.

Overview: The International Clean Energy Institute (iCEI) Executive Masters in Project Finance (eMPF) is an innovative and unique program focused on providing business executives with the practical skills they need to be able finance clean energy projects, even when getting money is otherwise extremely difficult such as during recessions or depressions or in risky environments like in some parts of the developing world. This program provides the best possible ROI any company or executive can imagine, with an 18 month payback by design, plus the prospects of additional annual earnings in the 6 figure range. Participants will learn how to finance projects worth up to hundreds of millions (clean energy) or billions (public transport) and with achiveable annual returns above 15%, often providing over 100% return on equity for project development when the goal is to flip project during at an early development stage. 

With this advanced and leading edge knowledge, provided by a comprehensive team of experienced professionals and subject matter experts in all areas covered, graduates will not only know where to go and what to do to finance any clean energy project anywhere in the world, but they will also acquire the practical skills to finance these projects in the easiest and fastest manner imaginable, regardless of whether local and global economies thrive or struggle, regardless of what happens with the traditional currencies and in the banking world.

This program is typically offered only once a year, and in order to keep the quality of support at the highest level, is only available to a maximum of 30 participants. At this point, we only offer one session per year starting in September. People who do not book early enough may have to wait a year before they can join the program.

Program description:  This program is unlike anything currently offered in in schools or universities anywhere. Masters in Renewable Energy programs are typically designed for engineers, policy makers or highly technical people and cover the various clean technologies from a technical perspective.  By contrast, our eMPF in Clean Energy focuses on financing approaches that can work specifically for clean energy projects including renewable energy but also clean transportation.  Unlike executive MBA or Masters in Finance programs which are designed for typical business employees or small business owners, our eMPF is designed specifically for investors and corporate executives. The program also incorporates concepts adapted and inspired from Trump University, Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Education Elite Training programs and many other international courses and conferences focused on the business/finance aspect of energy financing.

Our program is on the cutting edge of technology, business and productivity. In addition to covering the foundation of classic business finance, it also covers new and unconventional approaches such as blockchain (smart transactions, crypto currencies...), crowd funding, green funds, Property Assessment Clean Energy Financing (PACE), merchant based Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), prepaid/pay as you go models for solar micro-grids and much more. Participants are required to pick the focus of their capstone projects from one of the following;

Audience: Business executives, financial experts, energy utility managers, renewable energy project developers, real estate investors, angel investors, banking managers, pension fund managers, vehicle fleet managers, construction and anyone interested in financing large scale clean energy projects.

Program Duration: 18 months (over a recommended period of 1.5 years).

Courses: The program consists of 12 distance learning (three-credit) modules, 3 one week (three-credit) face to face onsite workshop modules and a six month (9 credit) final capstone project. Each of the distance learning modules is delivered over one month and is designed to be completed in 32 to 48 notional hours. This program will cover how to obtain both debt and equity funding for a project.

Time Commitment: This program is designed to allow people to work full time while taking it. The estimated time required for the course modules is 12 months, with is 8-12 hours per week for the online/distance portion (10 notional hours), plus 40 hours per week for each of the three onsite workshops. The last 6 months (internship) requires 8-12 hours per week for the completion of the capstone project.

Format Delivery: Hybrid (blended) online + onsite. The online courses allows participants to take courses from anywhere (distance learning) and at any time that works for the participant in the week(s) of the course. During both online courses and the final internship period, weekly interactive videoconferencing allow effective presentations and face to face interaction. The video conferences are recorded for future access or for those who could not attend the live event. The online courses are complemented by three one-week (4.5 days) onsite networking workshops offered at international locations. For the next session, they are offered in Cancun, Mexico (winter workshop), in the Ottawa-Gatinau, National Capital Region of Canada (spring workshop) and in the Nice/French Riviera area (summer workshop).

Handout and Training Material: Participants are provided with complementary types of materials: electronic copies of slides, textbooks (which students can print to obtain a hard copy), worksheets, multimedia videos with audio. For onsite training, a paper copy of the slides is provided to allow students to add written notes.

Hands-on component: 50% of the training is hands-on ‘applied knowledge’ through real world case studies, capstone project and internships.

Internship/Capstone Project: Each participant will complete a practical internship which is distributed through the 18 months of the program. Internship projects start at the same time as the whole program. Multi-million $ projects are provided by GPEKS. Participants can perform the project either individually or be part of a team of two or three if they pick the same focus (i.e Solar Photovoltaics). Participants need to complete the capstone project in order to get reimbursed for the program. The last 6 months of the program are dedicated to the capstone project completion.

Cost: $US 40,000. There is a  booking fee which is fully refundable to people who decide to drop out before the end of the first week of the first course. We do offer student loans covering 100% of the tuition, at 1.18% monthly for the 18 month duration up to the refund upon completion. The tuition fee is fully reimbursed upon completion of the 6 month internship on a real project at the end of the program. The only cost people will have to bear is the traveling and accommodation costs to a gorgeous or exotic tourism destination for the three onsite workshops.

Referral Program: We provide finder’s fee up to US $4,400 to people who refer to us participants who get accepted and enroll into the eMPF program.

Admission criteria: This program is opened to either experienced professionals or individuals with formal training in business and clean energy.

To apply, complete the inquiry form using the link at the end of the page.

Instructors & Facilitators: The program courses are delivered by an international team of subject matter expert practitioners with proven experience in the field of project finance, real estate and clean energy finance. Facilitators are not pure academics and are screened and trained as andragogues (educators of adult students) for their effective communication skills. We make sure that the trainer team keeps up to date with the newest developments in the technical areas that they cover and use the most effective approaches and tools for effective learning in a comfortable manner.

Students per class: In order to maintain the highest possible level of interaction and quality, we accept up to 30 people per course and workshop. If we have more accepted applicants than the number of participants, participants with the highest scores at the entrance exam will be given priority and the other applicants will be given the opportunity to enroll in future courses.

Diploma & accreditation: Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate of proficiency as a ‘CleanTech Finance Professional’. GPEKS is in the process of getting this diploma officially accredited and recognized through partnerships with an international network of reputable Universities, Colleges and professional energy organizations.

Mentor program: As part of the team of facilitators, participants have the option to adhere to the optional mentor program which offers weekly time of consulting on student projects. Mentors are expert practitioners who can be reached for a period of one year after the program completion to assist, advise and guide graduates in real world deals.

Availability: Program registration is open. To apply for it, please complete the inquiry form here as soon as possible. Select eMPF as the course of Interest, and then send a short pre-selection essay of half a page maximum on your motivation for applying.