Australia can realise its renewable energy superpower vision – if it improves how it plans and approves projects.
Robust but timely approval processes are critical to secure renewable energy at scale, while benefiting communities and protecting the environment.
Some subnational governments are already taking significant actions to make planning and approvals processes more efficient, but this work varies across jurisdictions, and challenges prevent further progress.
In May 2025, Climateworks Centre and the Clean Energy Investor Group (CEIG) brought together state and territory governments to better understand planning and approvals at the state and territory level.
Over two workshops, attendees discussed the challenges they face in improving the renewable energy planning process and what solutions are available to address delayed approvals.
Challenges in improving renewable energy planning
- Speed and urgency of the transition
- Unclear, duplicative or ineffective approval pathways with a lack of coordination
- Competing priorities
- Stakeholder engagement and social acceptance
- Lack of accurate information or tools
Opportunities to improve planning processes
- Creating objective, methodical and repeatable development standards
- Strengthening internal capacity through recruitment, training programs, mentoring and graduate programs
- Establishing a dedicated case management team
- Enhancing inter-agency and government coordination
- Introducing new guidelines and tools
- Engaging with stakeholders early and often, and compromising to build consensus
- Understanding that the transition timeframe is running out
Regional planning as a transformational approach to renewable energy planning
- Undertaking planning and approval at a regional level, rather than on a project-by-project basis