Where to Build? The Realities of Siting Renewable Energy Projects

By Eric Kamande

As the race to decarbonize energy systems intensifies, renewable energy has moved from the fringe to the forefront of national policy. Behind the scenes, however, lies one of the most critical and complex components of any renewable energy project: site selection. Choosing the right location can mean the difference between a viable, high-output utility and a delayed, underperforming asset. But what exactly goes into picking the perfect site for a renewable energy project?

The answer combines science, strategy, and increasingly, artificial intelligence.

The Backbone of Renewable Utilities

Utilities have long been the infrastructure that powers cities and industries. Today’s energy utilities, particularly those centered on renewables like solar and wind, require meticulous upfront planning before a single turbine or solar panel is installed. Site selection doesn’t just involve identifying where the sun shines or the wind blows. It encompasses land access, regulatory hurdles, environmental constraints, community engagement, and proximity to transmission infrastructure.

A poor site can lead to expensive delays, limited grid access, and even legal pushback. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, siting issues are now among the top three causes of delay in large-scale renewable projects. More than 70 percent of U.S. states give local authorities control over siting standards, often leading to conflicting rules and unpredictable permitting timelines.

Add to this the volatility of land values and increasing pressure to locate projects near data centers, hydrogen hubs, or growing cities, and the site selection process begins to resemble a complex, multi-layered game of chess.

But a new generation of startups is using artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and integrated planning tools to bring speed, precision, and market-readiness to the siting process.

Astro Energy: AI for Early-Stage Utility-Scale Planning
Founded by Alex Fuster and based in San Francisco, Astro Energy is pioneering a new approach to utility-scale renewable development using artificial intelligence. The company uses proprietary AI models to find and acquire land, simulate grid congestion, and secure low-cost interconnection agreements, then sells these de-risked, development-ready projects to major energy buyers.

Astro’s platform analyzes thousands of variables, from power market forecasts to environmental overlays and permitting data, to identify technically viable and financially optimal sites. It also models transmission costs and off-taker structures, helping avoid the grid upgrade surprises that derail up to 90% of U.S. renewable projects.

Astro has cut typical development timelines in half by automating early-stage feasibility and handling critical grid logistics. With the U.S. needing 2,000 GW of new generation by 2035 to meet electrification demand, Astro is helping unlock speed and certainty in an industry where both are in short supply.

Transect: Environmental Risk Mapping at Speed
Another key player streamlining renewable development is Transect, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Co-founded by Robin Laine, Transect tackles the regulatory and environmental hurdles that so often trip up projects after a site has been selected.

Using a mix of environmental data, permitting frameworks, and AI modeling, Transect allows developers to evaluate whether land is at risk of triggering costly delays due to wetlands, endangered species, or cultural heritage zones. Their software can simulate the likelihood of permit approvals and even generate agency-ready environmental review reports.

With more than 10,000 site reviews completed across the U.S., Transect is quickly becoming a go-to solution for firms looking to stay compliant without slowing down. Its integration with state-level data sources and the DOE’s permitting roadmap allows it to flag potential friction points early in the project lifecycle.

In a rapidly tightening regulatory environment, especially in states like California and New York where renewable permitting can take upwards of two years, tools like Transect offer a critical shortcut through red tape.

Terabase Energy: Building Faster, Cheaper, Smarter
While Astro and Transect help determine where to build, Terabase Energy steps in to help with how to build. Based in Berkeley, California, and founded by Matt Campbell, the company blends robotics, digital twin technology, and AI to automate the construction of solar plants.

One of Terabase’s standout innovations is its “Terafab” system, a prefabrication platform that builds solar tracker assemblies using robotic arms. Once deployed, it can reduce labor costs by over 30 percent and shorten construction timelines by weeks, if not months.

The company recently raised a $130 million Series C round to scale its robotic field factory and digital project management platform. Terabase integrates geospatial data, energy yield modeling, and supply chain logistics to not only accelerate site development but also cut soft costs across engineering, procurement, and construction.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) estimates that soft costs can represent up to 40 percent of total solar project budgets. By digitizing and automating these phases, Terabase is helping the sector scale at the speed required to meet global decarbonization goals.

The Big Picture
Astro, Transect, and Terabase are each addressing distinct challenges in the renewable energy lifecycle. But taken together, they represent a broader shift in how the world approaches clean energy development: with speed, intelligence, and scale.

Globally, the pressure is mounting. The International Energy Agency estimates the world needs to add over 1,000 gigawatts of renewable capacity each year by 2030 to stay aligned with net-zero targets. Yet permitting delays, grid constraints, and inefficient land assessments continue to slow progress.

Smarter site selection is becoming a critical unlock. It’s not just about choosing the right parcel of land, it’s about compressing timelines, cutting costs, and ensuring that clean energy can keep pace with global demand.

Get innovation insights from The FutureList weekly. Subscribe to our newsletter here