How to develop a renewable energy project from start to finish

The stages of renewable energy development

To enable a solar or wind farm to produce renewable energy for 20 to 35 years, numerous steps are necessary. These include identifying a suitable location for installation, ensuring compliance with all regulatory constraints, and securing a connection to the national grid.

The development and construction of a renewable energy farm can take several years, typically between 5 and 7 years for a solar farm and 7 to 10 years for an onshore wind farm. With a strict regulatory framework, numerous rigorous and well-supported surveys submitted to state authorities, and the management of multiple stakeholders, a project must go through several stages.

Thanks to its extensive portfolio of activities, BayWa r.e. is involved throughout the entire lifecycle of a project.

Identification of an area suitable for the development of a project

With our mapping tools and internal teams trained in prospecting, we identify the most relevant sites for the development of renewable energy projects. We conduct feasibility surveys, with no commitment on your part, to determine whether a project may be viable on your site. We also offer, upon request, an assessment of the wind, solar, or storage potential of a site (particularly elements like agricultural wasteland, former quarries, unused water bodies, private or communal land, etc.).

Would you like to have your land assessed for free?

The specific case of offshore wind farms

Some renewable energy projects follow a different procedure. In France, offshore wind projects follow distinct development steps as they are subject to state-issued tenders.

For offshore wind projects, the government defines suitable development zones, conducts initial studies, determines the installed capacity, and organises public consultations. Offshore wind developers then participate in tenders, and the government selects the winning bidder, who will be responsible for the subsequent development of the project.