utility-scale power in Texas

Looking for resources to prepare for a case study presentation.

There are some inputs which i can already think of that would influence the investment like interest rates, but I am looking for resources to learn about any other drivers that may not be so obvious, or where I can find a baseline to compare these types of projects' returns and drivers like permitting processes to those from other states or projects. 

I assume the return required for investing in a project would be lower than the return required to acquire the whole thing, but I don't know by how much difference it would be.

Additionally, in general, how do construction companies/developers deal with construction overruns or delays getting permits etc? Do they need to get some special kind of financing? I assume they have some costs added if the construction is delayed. 

5 Comments
 

For utility-scale power projects in Texas, here’s a breakdown of resources and insights to help you prepare for your case study presentation:

Key Drivers and Resources:

  1. Interest Rates and Financing Terms:

    • Interest rates are a major driver, but also consider debt and tax equity terms. Competitive pricing and the ability to close deals under base case underwriting are critical for returns. Look into how construction facilities are structured (e.g., 70% gearing, as mentioned in infrastructure modeling tests) and how they are refinanced into long-term debt sculpted to cash flows.
  2. Permitting Processes:

    • Permitting can vary significantly by state. For Texas, you might want to compare it to other states with similar energy markets. Larger funds like Brookfield or Macquarie often provide insights into trends and permitting challenges in their investor presentations. These can be a good starting point for understanding baseline comparisons.
  3. Construction Overruns and Delays:

    • Developers often mitigate risks of overruns or delays through EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts. Full-wrap EPC contracts, like the ones mentioned in infrastructure modeling tests, can help manage operational risks. However, delays can lead to added costs, which are typically accounted for in contingency budgets or through special financing arrangements like bridge loans or additional equity injections.
  4. Return Expectations:

    • Your assumption is correct: the return required for investing in a project is generally lower than acquiring the whole thing. The difference depends on the risk profile of the project stage (e.g., construction vs. operational). For example, construction-stage projects carry higher risks (e.g., permitting, construction delays) and thus require higher returns compared to stabilized, operational assets.
  5. Market-Specific Drivers:

    • In Texas, energy storage and decentralized solar projects are becoming increasingly relevant. These trends can influence investment decisions and returns. Additionally, state-level policies and RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standards) targets can create new opportunities or challenges.

Resources for Learning:

Addressing Construction Delays:

  • Special Financing: Developers may use bridge loans or negotiate terms with lenders to cover delays. Some also rely on contingency reserves built into the project budget.
  • EPC Contracts: Full-wrap EPC contracts can transfer some risks to contractors, but developers still need to manage approvals and unforeseen issues.

By focusing on these drivers and leveraging the resources mentioned, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle your case study presentation. Good luck!

Sources: Interviewing For Infrastructure Investment Roles, Interviewing For Infrastructure Investment Roles, Q&A: Director of Energy Trading, Renewable Energy PE Overview, Renewable Energy PE Overview

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
Most Helpful

There’s a bunch of materials out there on Infra and Project Finance (the kind of financing used to develop most of these infra projects). Specific revenue drivers differ depending on what kind of project it is (gas fired, wind, solar, BESS, or something more exotic) but include production factors like wind speed/solar irradiance (in wind and solar), availability and cost of fuel (conventional power), offtake structure (PPA vs Merchant or some combination of both), PPA structure (ie how is it settled, is there upside sharing), as well as various O&M and operational aspects. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll see what I can do. 

Texas specifically has had some interesting stuff with negative power prices, which is definitely a risk you’d want to look into if you’re looking at a project relying heavily on merchant. Additionally you’ll want to look at availability requirements in the PPA and how those can lead to damages or events of default. 

 

Thank you - very helpful. 

  • could you provide the names of the resources you mentioned? I have been unable to find any free resources which discuss (1) permitting times in different states (2) typical equity returns for an investment or how much of the capital stack is back leverage (3) how companies deal with longer development times.

I read that tax equity is typically 35% of a capital stack but I don't know how much is provided by back leverage and what benefits back leverage have - usually debt is paid before equity but in this case debt is paid after tax equity from whatever the sponsor gets 

 

Sry meant to respond but getting jammed rn. I’d look for project finance & PUI primers as well as resources from agencies like NREL and state level counterparts like NYSERDA. Permitting and IX are all really sector + geography specific, so it might be harder to find exactly what you’re looking for but I’ve found the aforementioned resources to be very helpful.

 

Officia ipsam ut qui deserunt consequuntur optio. Quia velit esse incidunt ullam. Quo sunt amet quidem autem explicabo culpa corrupti.

Voluptatem neque autem laborum cumque. Accusamus alias sit fugit minima repellendus amet.

Reprehenderit voluptatum et ratione sed saepe et. Aperiam aut et voluptate quam rerum id sit. Sapiente qui nisi sapiente cum libero. Occaecati at voluptas maxime minima.

Career Advancement Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • The Riverside Company 99.6%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Warburg Pincus 98.5%
  • Bain Capital 98.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

June 2026 Private Equity

  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Ardian 98.9%
  • Blackstone Group 98.5%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Bain Capital 99.6%
  • The Riverside Company 99.2%
  • Blackstone Group 98.9%
  • Starwood Capital Group 98.5%
  • KKR (Kohlberg Kravis Roberts) 98.1%

Total Avg Compensation

June 2026 Private Equity

  • Principal (9) $653
  • Director/MD (24) $547
  • Vice President (97) $363
  • 3rd+ Year Associate (104) $281
  • 2nd Year Associate (234) $272
  • 1st Year Associate (411) $229
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (33) $157
  • 2nd Year Analyst (95) $134
  • 1st Year Analyst (271) $124
  • Intern/Summer Associate (37) $80
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (351) $61
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”