Renewable　energy　projects　(REPs)　are　constructed　to　contribute　to　the　eradication　of　global　warming　and　supporting　a　sustainable　aspect　of　economies.　However,　due　to　their　entrepreneurial　nature,　such　REPs　are　quite　prone　to　severe　project　variations.　Mostly,　REPs　deviate　from　their　allocated　plans,　which　lead　them　to　the　time　and　cost　overrun　outcomes　alongside　numerous　other　hindering　impacts.　The　current　research　was　intended　to　understand　the　critical　impacts　of　project　variations　during　the　building　activities　of　REPs.　Utilizing　a　sample　of　253　field　experts　engaged　with　such　REPs　at　Pakistan,　we　employed　structural　equation　modeling　(SEM)　to　analyze　and　confirm　our　propositions.　It　was　found　that　cost-related　effects　were　the　most　significant　outcomes　in　the　REPs　and　their　severity　was　higher　than　other　variation　consequences　of　time-overrun　effects,　productivity-related　effects,　risk-related　effects,　and　reputation　related　effects.　Nevertheless,　an　unexpected　outcome　was　observed　regarding　the　variations,　which　do　not　show　their　negative　effects　on　reputation　related　aspects　in　the　REPs　of　Pakistan.　Considering　its　critical　findings,　this　research　is　a　useful　tool　for　project　executives　that　they　can　formulate　certain　techniques　to　tackle　such　variations　and　their　consequences　in　REPs.　This　research　likewise　aimed　to　add　and　extend　pertinent　literature　for　REPs　by　following　the　outcomes　of　the　current　research　concerning　the　impacts　of　project　variations.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.