You have been approached by a developer with South Carolina solar project. Your manager wants to understand how attractive S.C. market could be or not the particular opportunity is feasible and meets the company’s investment criteria:
The Following part is the information regarding the project:
Investment Date: 2014
Commercial Operation Date: 2015
Life of Plant: 20 years (assume no terminal value)
Depreciation Assumptions: 5-year straight line depreciation (assume no salvage value)
Production per-year: 50,000 MWh
Price (you get for each MWh you deliver): $150/MWh (Price will be escalating at the rate of CPI)
CPI: 2.5%
Capital Expenditure: $40,000,000 (Cost of the Plant)
Operating Expenses: Operating expenses (COGS) are 25% of EBITDA for year 1 and escalating each year at CPI.
Investment Tax Credit: South Carolina provides 3% investment tax credit on the initial investment.
Taxes: 35%
Based on the information provided, please calculate the IRR and NPV based on the after-tax cash flows and discount rate is 8%. What is your assessment?