Solar Project Finance
How the Financely Platform Helps Solar Developers Raise Capital
Financely runs solar capital raises as a managed decisioning process. We pressure-test the deal, build a lender-grade package, match it to the right capital, and drive written outcomes.
The goal is simple: term sheets, not conversations.
If you want to see the broader workflow, start with How It Works
and use the intake to request terms here.
Sponsor vs Developer: How Capital Providers Classify You
Solar capital is not raised on a title. It is raised on role clarity and risk allocation.
A developer
originates and de-risks the project: site control, interconnection milestones, permitting path, EPC readiness, and a complete diligence pack.
A sponsor
is the party expected to fund equity, carry governance responsibility, and support closing conditions.
Why this matters:
if you have limited equity, you can still be the developer of record, earn development fees, and keep a promote.
The sponsor seat is typically held by a majority equity partner, platform investor, or strategic owner with balance sheet capacity.
Flowchart: From Structuring to Closing on the Financely Platform
Each phase has a defined output, a decision gate, and a timeline target. Steps can overlap based on project readiness.
1) Intake and Triage
What we collect:
project snapshot, location, size (MW), stage, revenue plan (PPA or merchant), capex range, target close date, ownership and KYC.
What we do:
fast fit check, identify missing bankability items, confirm likely structure and capital sources.
Timeline target:
48-hour accept or decline once documents are received.
2) Structuring and Underwriting Plan
Output:
target capital stack (debt, equity, tax equity where applicable, preferred equity), covenant targets, reserves logic, and lender controls summary.
Decision gate:
confirm bankability route and the fastest path to a term sheet request that lenders can price.
Timeline target:
2 to 4 business days after triage.
3) Data Room Build and Document Checklist
Output:
controlled data room structure, named folders, and a lender-facing index that maps every doc to underwriting sections.
Typical items:
site control, interconnection status, permitting matrix, EPC and O&M path, revenue docs, insurance plan, model and sensitivities.
Timeline target:
Day 1 to Day 3 of engagement.
4) Lender-Ready Package Production
Output:
lender memo and lender pack (sources and uses, capex and contingency logic, revenue summary, key risks, mitigants, security package, reporting cadence).
Decision gate:
package sign-off. This is the version that goes out to the market.
Timeline target:
within 10 business days after complete documents are received.
5) Lender Fit Matrix and Target List
Output:
mapped capital providers by project type, stage, geography, ticket size, revenue profile, and risk appetite.
What changes outcomes:
precise matching and clean packaging. Spray-and-pray kills speed and credibility.
Timeline target:
built in parallel with package production.
6) Outreach Launch and Submission Tracking
Output:
two structured outreach waves, tracked submissions, and a controlled Q&A process.
How we run it:
lenders get one clean story, one data room, and one channel for diligence requests.
Timeline target:
outreach launches within 48 hours after package sign-off.
7) Underwriting Calls, Diligence, and Term Sheet Process
Output:
underwriting call prep, Q&A routing, diligence log, and term sheet comparison matrix as offers arrive.
Decision gate:
select the best path based on pricing, covenants, conditions, and execution certainty.
Timeline target:
2 to 6 weeks in most cases, depending on bankability and counterparties.
8) Closing Management
Output:
conditions precedent tracker, counsel coordination, final lender deliverables, and closing schedule management.
What slows closings:
unresolved permits, unclear EPC scope, weak revenue docs, ownership/KYC gaps, and missing insurances.
Timeline target:
variable. Many projects close in 6 to 12+ weeks after term sheet, based on project readiness.
Timeline Summary: What to Expect in Practice
| Phase |
Financely deliverable |
Typical time target |
| Accept or decline |
Fit decision once documents are received |
48 hours |
| Structuring plan |
Capital stack and underwriting plan |
2 to 4 business days |
| Lender-ready package |
Memo, pack, data room index, submission version |
Within 10 business days after complete docs |
| Outreach launch |
Curated list, Wave 1 submissions, tracking live |
Within 48 hours after sign-off |
| Written outcomes |
Term sheet or written decline pathway |
Often within 21 business days of outreach launch, then driven to completion |
| Closing |
CP tracker, diligence, counsel coordination |
Commonly 6 to 12+ weeks after term sheet |
Scope clarity:
the platform is a process guarantee, not a funding promise.
Outcomes depend on bankability, diligence, compliance screening, investor and lender approvals, and definitive documentation.
What You Get as a Solar Developer
- Clear structuring:
a realistic capital stack tied to what the market will underwrite, not what you wish it would.
- Lender-grade packaging:
one coherent story with risk controls, sources and uses, and a diligence-ready data room.
- Managed decisioning:
tracked submissions, structured Q&A, and term sheet comparison, with weekly status updates.
- Closing discipline:
CP and diligence tracking so you do not drift from term sheet to funding.
Request Indicative Terms
Share your project stage, location, MW size, revenue plan, EPC status, and the capital ask.
We will revert with the likely structures, key diligence items, and a timeline to term sheet outcomes.