There are many organisations actively looking for good sites for new renewable projects across Queensland.

In this pre-development phase, initial technical work is undertaken by developers to confirm the quality of the renewable energy resource, identify factors that might impact a project and to seek out appropriate locations for energy infrastructure.

This phase can take place over many months or even years, and may not result in an actual project outcome.

Securing development land is the first important step in any renewable project.

Once a prospective site for a project is identified, project developers approach land owners to enter into an option for that land.

This is also the stage where Traditional Owners of the land would be engaged.

Following negotiations, a legal land option would typically be entered into with the land owners and an agreement with Traditional Owners.

This can take a few months to complete. A land option does not mean the project will necessarily go ahead.

This is when the initial big project investment is made, with various technical assessments and designs undertaken.

During this phase the applications for planning and environmental approvals are prepared. There may also be a need to be cultural heritage management plans negotiated and agreed with Traditional Owners.

Projects will also begin working with local councils, stakeholders and communities around the proposed site.

The feasibility phase of the project can typically take up to a year.

Once the relevant technical assessments and designs are completed, the applications for planning approval ('development approval' or DA) and environmental approval are submitted. Depending on the location, some projects need to obtain federal environmental under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act ('EPBC approval') as well as approval for vegetation clearing from the relevant state agencies.

An important aspect of the development approval phase is to engage with the local council, neighbours and suppliers to consult on how the benefits of the project will be shared with the local community, and strategies the project will adopt to manage the environmental impacts, traffic impacts and other disruptions that will occur particularly during the construction phase of the project.

The approval process can take around six months, and is still not a guarantee that the project will go ahead.

The grid connection process is a crucial and complex stage in any energy project. A great deal of behind-the-scenes work happens here.

Apart from the connection agreement, detailed design, commercial and legal work to inform the Financial Investment Decision (FID) is undertaken and the project developer may look for a partner to off-take the energy that will be produced from the project.

This stage can take around a year to complete after development approval is received.

This is sometimes called ‘Financial Close', where the project has the required approvals, a grid connection and necessary funding in place and a decision is made to proceed with construction.

To secure funding, project proponents may enter into joint venture agreements, or sell their project to another developer to take it through the construction and commissioning phases.

A typical project planning lifecycle is three to four years from start to finish - although it is not unusual to take longer.