Alberta Renewable Energy Project Land Due Diligence

1. Freeze the project and site definition

Record technology, initial and ultimate capacity, equipment envelope, collector system, substation, storage, transmission or distribution connection, access, laydown, operations, setbacks and schedule. Map every required parcel and third-party right.

A conceptual layout or land option does not establish final footprint, compliant setbacks, approved equipment, connection capacity or construction feasibility.

• Technology
• MW and phases
• Equipment
• Land control
• Connection
• Target schedule

2. Verify land control parcel by parcel

Review titles, plans, options, leases, easements, caveats, assignments, owner authority, mortgages, access, mineral and surface interests, existing energy facilities and competing rights with counsel and survey professionals.

Control of most project land does not cure a missing access, collector, substation or transmission parcel. Record executed, conditional, expired and proposed rights separately.

3. Apply current agricultural-land evidence

Identify current use, soil and land-suitability evidence, irrigation or irrigability, native grassland, drainage, agricultural productivity and the proposed co-existence approach. Use the current AUC and provincial requirements for the specific application.

Do not infer a land class or approval outcome from aerial imagery, municipal assessment or current crop. Alberta's agriculture-first requirements and AUC review are project-specific.

4. Rebuild municipal and AUC status

Track municipal consultation, planning and permit pathway, adjacent-owner and participant work, visual effects, glare or shadow-flicker evidence, noise, setbacks, Indigenous consultation where applicable, AUC filing and decision conditions.

A supportive council motion, development application, AUC application number or consultant report is not complete project approval. Rule 007 effective November 6, 2025 incorporates current information requirements across these topics.

5. Separate grid access from project approval

Identify the AESO or distribution pathway, market participant, studies, facility applications, agreements, security, construction, dependencies and current connection status. Match the power-plant layout and phases to the connection record.

Nearby transmission, a substation, a project-list entry or an AUC power-plant approval does not prove available capacity, constructed facilities, energized service or economic dispatch.

6. Control environment, water and construction evidence

Review wetlands, wildlife, native grassland, water, drainage, contamination, heritage, geotechnical conditions, roads, bridges, heavy haul, laydown, snow, fire response and emergency access with qualified professionals.

Public mapping and a referral record are screening inputs. They do not certify the buildable area, environmental acceptability or construction cost.

7. Verify registration, reclamation and security

Confirm the applicable EPEA registration path, conservation and reclamation plan, third-party cost estimate, security structure, timing, updates, approval conditions, closure and reclamation certification requirements.

Government-held and landowner-held security are not interchangeable evidence. A stated security amount is not proof it remains current, sufficient, available or compliant for the present project.

8. Price the complete development path

Model land payments, extensions, studies, consultation, municipal work, AUC process, grid contributions, roads, civil work, equipment, environmental measures, security, financing, tax, delay and failure scenarios. Preserve source and date for each material input.

A renewable project valuation or residual land scenario is not an appraisal, connection offer, approval decision or forecast of power prices and project returns.

9. Convert unresolved items into transaction controls

Tie deposits, extensions, access, assignment, conditions, closing and price to named evidence and decisions. Address study ownership, confidentiality, restoration after testing, failed approvals, partial land control and project transfer through counsel.

Commercially coordinates real-estate sourcing and transaction evidence. It does not approve generation, allocate grid capacity, engineer a project, determine environmental compliance or guarantee construction, energization or investment performance.