This document is a practical playbook for teams working to turn early-stage energy project ideas into real, executable plans. Grounded in field experience and shaped by real-world project hurdles, EPRI’s Project Execution Framework is intended to help navigate the “messy middle”—the uncertain, often nonlinear stretch between concept and construction. The guide is built around a set of visual planning tools that help teams manage uncertainty, validate project readiness, and align internal decision-making across technical, commercial, regulatory, and stakeholder domains. Rather than offering a single path or fixed template, the guide presents a flexible framework to support clarity, coordination, and confident action across the project lifecycle.