Active and Future definitions are not always easy to define rigidly as different industry sectors use varying methods to establish when a project is active. One good measure is that as soon as a formal planning submission is submitted then the project has entered the public domain and should be active by implication.
Active project
This can be defined as one where activity has extended beyond the operator and supply chain business is potentially available. This may only be a feasibility, pre-FEED or environmental assessment but nevertheless represents a real business opportunity. Planning is almost always consent applied.
Future project
This is therefore by implied definition one where all activity still remains within the operator/ developer and there is no present opportunity for the wider supply chain. The project is essentially still at a planning phase and has not been formally submitted. It is possible that various feasibility/ consultancy based contracts might be in place however.
Cancelled project
This has progressed to a certain point and has then been abandoned. The reasons are nearly always due to financing problems, a lack of final consenting approval or political intervention.
Archived project
This is one which has run its build course and has continued into commercial operation. Although archived these projects are on-going in a commercial sense and often have very significant operational and maintenance budgets associated with them and thus the supply chain is still very interested.