As with any type of major infrastructure development, the process for obtaining planning and environmental approvals for renewable energy projects can be complex and confusing. Taking the time upfront to map out a regulatory approvals pathway will help project developers avoid costly roadblocks and increase the chances of the project’s success. The recent heightened buzz around renewable energy projects in Australia, including large-scale solar PV, can be likened to the frenzy of the gold rushes of the nineteenth century. Largely driven by cost reductions and bipartisan political support for the 2020 Renewable Energy Target, 2017 will undoubtedly be the biggest year that the renewables industry has seen in the last 50 years. There are many renewable energy projects under construction, or commencing construction this year. However, for those projects still in the feasibility stage, it is important for developers to remember that renewable energy projects undergo the same level of scrutiny in terms of approvals as their non-renewable energy project counterparts. This includes consideration of planning, environmental and cultural heritage approvals. The planning systems in many Australian jurisdictions are complex, difficult to navigate and hard to change. This represents a genuine hurdle for developers to get their approvals. As a result, … Continue reading Navigating planning and environmental approvals for renewable energy projects