MINFin – the Model for Informed National Financing – is a financial planning tool developed under the Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) programme by researchers at the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. It was designed to answer a critical question that most energy system models leave out: how will the transition be financed?

MINFin fills this gap by translating the technical outputs of energy plans into financial terms, enabling governments and their partners to assess whether investment strategies are not only technically sound but also economically viable. The model is open-source and built for accessibility, including non-specialist users across ministries, to support transparent, collaborative financial planning for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

MINFin is an Excel-based sector cashflow model that projects the costs of building an energy system, estimates the cost of financing based on real-world terms (e.g., interest rates, loan terms), and calculates likely revenue streams. It identifies financing gaps and allows users to test strategies to close them—whether through tariff reforms, cost reductions, increased concessional finance, or blended finance instruments.

The model operates at the national level, focused on the power sector. It links with technical planning models like OSeMOSYS and other finance tools such as FinTrack (concessional finance tracking) and FINPLAN (project-level analysis) to offer a complete picture of sector-wide financial viability and public debt exposure.

MINFin is tailored for governments, public planners, analysts, development partners, and financial institutions engaged in energy transition strategy—especially in LMICs where public finance plays a critical role. Its intuitive interface makes it usable by both finance and energy ministries, enabling joint ownership of strategy.

MINFin helps users understand the financial implications of national energy transition plans by addressing several key questions:

• How much investment is needed for the energy projects?
• What are the potential ways to finance these projects?
• Will revenues from electricity tariffs be sufficient to cover the project costs?
• Is the projected cash flow viable for attracting investment?
• How could different IRP scenarios affect Zambia’s national budget and debt?
• What risks arise from factors like foreign exchange rates, and how can they be mitigated?

You can access the model on GitHub and follow the free online training course via OpenLearn. These resources include step-by-step guides, templates, and real-world case studies to help users apply the model in their national context.

As an open-source tool, MINFin welcomes contributions. You can:

• Fork the GitHub repository
• Submit pull requests and enhancements
• Share case studies and lessons from applications
• Contribute to documentation and localisation

Feedback from real-world applications is particularly welcome to enhance model usability and relevance.

For further information on the model, please contact Hannah Luscombe, curator of the MINFin Model, at hannah.luscombe@ouce.ox.ac.uk.