Global project finance leadership across advisory and lending
The 2025 Dealogic Project Finance league tables marked an exceptional year for global structured finance activity. Against a backdrop of sustained infrastructure demand, accelerating energy transition investment and complex cross-border financing needs, project finance reaffirmed its central role in enabling large-scale capital infrastructure and renewable energy projects wordlwide.
In this context, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) achieved number one global rankings in project finance, including financial advisory, loan arranging and energy transition financing, alongside leading regional rankings in EMEA, Latin America and North America.
League table recognition in project finance reflects more than transaction volume. It signals global structuring expertise, capital mobilization capability and distribution strength, as well as the ability to coordinate sponsors, lenders, export credit agencies and institutional investors, across jurisdictions.
Global project finance platform: Structuring, advisory and loan arranging leadership
Project finance transactions are inherently complex. They typically involve long-dated structures, detailed risk allocation frameworks and coordination among diverse funding sources. Execution certainty depends on disciplined structuring and deep sector expertise in infrastructure and renewable energy finance.
Santander’s global project finance platform combines global sector knowledge with local market presence across Europe, the Americas and Asia. This integrated model enables close sponsor engagement while leveraging international distribution and strong balance sheet support.
Leading positions across advisory and loan arranging categories underscore the platform’s integrated nature. Advisory mandates focus on optimizing capital structures and risk allocation, while arranging mandates demonstrate the ability to mobilize syndicated loans and institutional capital efficiently. Energy transition as a structural driver
Energy Transition financing as a core growth driver
Energy transition financing has become a defining theme in global project finance markets. Renewable generation, grid infrastructure, storage solutions require sustained capital investment.
Achieving top rankings in energy transition project finance reflects both sector focus and execution capacity. As governments and corporates pursue decarbonisation objectives, financing solutions must balance long-term viability with evolving regulatory frameworks and investor expectations.
Project finance structures play a pivotal role in aligning these interests. By ringfencing project cash flows and allocating risk clearly among participants, they enable capital to flow into assets that are central to the global decarbonisation agenda.
Regional leadership across EMEA, the Americas and beyond
Holding leading positions across EMEA, Latin America and North America highlights the strength of Santander’s cross-border project finance capabilities. Transactions often involve multinational sponsors, global lenders and internationally distributed investors, requiring seamless regional coordination.
Collaboration across debt capital markets, export finance and risk management enhances execution certainty, particularly in volatile market conditions.
Outlook for global infrastructure and project finance
Global infrastructure deficits remain significant, while energy transition targets continue to require substantial capital mobilization. Despite macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, demand for disciplined project financing frameworks is expected to remain strong.
Leadership in the global project finance league tables reflects sustained capability across cycles. As sponsors advance increasingly ambitious infrastructure and renewable energy projects, integrated advisory and loan arranging platforms will remain essential to enabling investment, supporting economic development and accelerating the global energy transition.