Development and preparation of permitting documentation for building a wind farm
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300MW+
wind-farm capacity
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$500М+
project budget
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18months
from the start of development to the construction permit
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7stages
of procedures synchronized in parallel
Context
Initial state
At the start, the investor intended to deliver a project to build a wind farm in the territory of one of Ukraine’s communities. The project was at an early development stage — land plots were not formed, there was no permitting documentation, and the path to construction required clearing a set of interrelated land, planning, environmental, and energy permitting procedures.
The goal was to ensure the full turnkey development of the project — from the early stage to obtaining the right to carry out construction work.
Project details
- Industry
- Renewable energy
- Area
- Development / Permitting documentation
- Wind-farm capacity
- 300+ MW
- Project budget
- $500М+
- Development timeline
- ~18 months
- Outcome
- Permit to carry out construction work
The problem
A set of interrelated procedures with no single management — a critical risk of project delay
An initial legal and technical audit of the land, an analysis of the planning documentation, and an assessment of grid-connection options and environmental constraints confirmed: without comprehensive development, the project could not move to the construction stage. Each procedure depended on the result of the previous one — and any delay at one stage blocked the whole chain.
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Unformed land plots with no designated use
Land plots for energy facilities were not formed or lacked the appropriate designated use — the first and longest stage of development
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The need to synchronize several independent procedures
The land, planning, and environmental procedures had their own timelines, requirements, and approving bodies — without single management they easily turn into a sequential delay instead of parallel progress
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The EIA procedure for a wind farm
The environmental impact assessment for a wind farm is a long, unpredictable procedure with public hearings and a risk of appeal
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Grid-connection technical conditions
Obtaining connection conditions for a 300+ MW facility is a separate, complex procedure with its own timelines and risks
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Grid-connection technical conditions
Obtaining connection conditions for a 600+ MW facility is a separate, complex procedure with its own timelines and risks
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The complexity of engaging the local community
Agreeing the project with local self-government and the community required a separate engagement strategy and the management of social risks
How the problem was identified
The issues were identified on the basis of an initial legal and technical audit of the land, an analysis of the planning documentation, and an assessment of grid-connection options and environmental constraints. The audit established that, without comprehensive development under single management of all procedures, the project could not move to the construction stage within acceptable timelines.
The solution
Steps in developing the project
We decided on a phased delivery of the development with the parallel synchronization of all key procedures. The work was carried out with land-surveying, environmental, design, and energy experts under single management.
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Initial project audit
We analyzed the land plots, checked the planning constraints, and made a preliminary assessment of grid-connection options — as the basis for planning the entire development.
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Forming the land bank
We took inventory of the land, developed the land-surveying documentation, and arranged the purchase and lease of agricultural land plots and servitude use (around 600 land plots). We changed the land's designated use to energy facilities.
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Planning preparation
We developed a detailed site plan and obtained the urban planning conditions and constraints for building the wind farm.
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The environmental procedure
We prepared the environmental impact assessment report, organized and held public hearings, and obtained the EIA conclusion.
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The energy part
We obtained the grid-connection technical conditions and agreed the connection point for the 300+ MW facility.
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Design
We developed the design documentation and passed the expert review.
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Obtaining the right to build
We prepared and submitted documents to the state architectural and construction-control body. We obtained the permit to carry out construction work.
Results
Measurable achievements after completing the development
A project to build a 300+ MW wind farm was advanced from the idea stage to construction readiness in ~18 months of comprehensive turnkey development. The investor obtained not just a construction permit but a project fully prepared for delivery or sale, with minimized regulatory risks and clean permitting documentation.
Before development
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Early stage — an idea with no documents
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Unformed land plots
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No planning documentation
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Environmental procedure not started
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No technical conditions
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No design documentation
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Construction impossible to start
After development
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A full package of permitting documentation
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A land bank for a 300+ MW wind farm
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A detailed site plan and planning conditions
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EIA conclusion obtained
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Grid-connection conditions obtained
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Design documentation developed and approved
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Permit to carry out construction work obtained
