How Renewable Energy Projects Are Built
Building a renewable energy project takes time. It can take from between six to 13 years for a project to go from identifying a potential location to producing power.
While the exact timeline will vary for each individual project, most will follow five broad stages:
Stage 1: Pre-development
Stage 2: Development
Stage 3: Construction
Stage 4: Commissioning
Stage 5: Operation
Finding the right spot
1. Pre-development
The process begins with the developer identifying potential locations for their project. Once a location is picked, developers will start engaging with landowners, Traditional Owner groups, Local Government and the local community.
When selecting a location for a new wind, solar or a battery project, developers consider a range of factors, including:
The availability of strong wind or solar resources
Available land space, and the type of land (for example, pre-cleared land is often prioritised)
Immediate and nearby land uses
Potential environmental and cultural impacts
Proximity to existing or planned transmission infrastructure
During this project stage you may start to see:
Developers begin communicating with landowners and Traditional Owner groups
Community information sessions, flyers and notices
Wind monitoring towers and solar analysis
Consultants visiting the area to gather information
Environmental assessments and heritage surveys
Getting the green light
2. Development
Developers need multiple types of approvals before a project can progress, including:
Environmental approvals
Development applications
Heritage approvals
Transmission connection agreements
Energy market participation
Energy generation licenses
Obtaining all approvals may take one to two years, depending on the project.
What you might see during this project stage:
Development application notice and consultation
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) proposal and consultation
More community information sessions
Planning documents being shared for feedback
Building and construction
3. Construction
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Once all approvals are granted and the developer has funding, the project can be built. This means preparing the site, building access roads and installing turbines, panels or batteries. Developers must follow strict rules to minimise noise, dust and traffic. This stage may take from two to five years, depending on the project. Construction during this phase can create additional local jobs and contracts for nearby businesses.
What you might see during this project stage:
Trucks delivering parts
Cranes lifting turbines or panels
More workers in town
Testing prior to operation
4. Commissioning
Before the project can go live, each part of the system is tested to make sure it’s safe, reliable and functioning as it should. Once all tests are successfully passed, the project can start feeding power into the grid. This stage may take between six to 12 months, depending on the project.
What you might see during this project stage:
Lights on equipment
Technicians checking systems
Announcements about testing before the project officially 'switches on'
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Producing clean energy
5. Operation
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Once testing is complete, the project begins generating renewable power for WA homes, businesses and industry. Operators will carry out regular maintenance and keep the community updated over the course of the project's life. Most wind and solar farms operate for 20 - 30 years, and batteries typically last 10 - 20 years before they need upgrades.
What you might see during this project stage:
Ongoing but low levels of activity on site - such as maintenance crews and the occasional replacement of parts
Community updates on performance