Energy & Infrastructure Lawyers, Global Law Firm

Investment is needed in critical infrastructure including battery storage, EV charging and interconnectors. We have experience advising clients across each of these key areas.

Battery storage helps to balance electricity supply and demand and will be particularly important given the scaling up of intermittent renewable energy production.

The development of the high-speed electric vehicle (EV) charging network represents a huge infrastructure challenge and a corresponding opportunity for developers, infrastructure investors and debt providers.

Many of the changes required to enable the energy transition: the scaling up of renewable electricity generation; switching from natural gas to green gases such as clean hydrogen; sector coupling, require significant investments in grid infrastructure. This will include both refurbishment and new build, including interconnectors between nations.

Recent client highlights

Battery Storage

Two battery storage assets, Central America: advised IDB Invest on the financing to Neoen SA for two battery storage projects with a total capacity of 11MW and 8 MWh to be installed at the existing Capella and Providencia solar plants in El Salvador.
Solar grid/lithium battery storage, Australia: advised Nord/LB on the financing of a 13MW PV solar plant with a grid connected 5.4MWh/1.3MW lithium battery in Queensland, Australia. Asia Pacific Solar Deal of the Year 2016, IJGlobal Asia Pacific Awards
Temple Power Solar and Battery Scheme, Ghana: advised Globeleq and its joint venture partner on the development of the first battery installation in Ghana and one of the first in West Africa.

EV Charging

Heliox Energy, Europe: advised Waterland's portfolio company Heliox on its partnership with Green Investment Group to deliver pioneering EV charging-as-a-service across Europe.
EV fast charger SPAC, Australia: advised Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II (DCRN), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) on its merger with the maker of fast chargers for electric vehicles Tritium Holdings Pty Ltd, becoming the first Australian company to reach a deal with a SPAC.
Allego, the Netherlands: advised Meridiam on the acquisition of Allego B.V., the Netherlands-based company that develops charging solutions for electric vehicles. European Innovation Deal of the Year 2019, IJGlobal Awards.

Interconnectors

Viking Link Interconnector, UK/Denmark: Advised the lenders on the export credit agencies (ECA)-backed financing of a pan-European subsea electricity cable, known as an interconnector, between the UK and Denmark. Named Viking Link, the 1400 MW cable will supply renewable energy to 1.4 million households thereby contributing to a more effective use of green energy.
Greenlink interconnector, UK-Ireland: advised Partners Group in relation to all aspects of its investment in the proposed 200km subsea and underground Greenlink electricity interconnector between UK and Ireland.
NordLink interconnector, Norway-Germany: advised KfW on the joint venture project with TenneT and Statnett to build a high-voltage transmission cable. The investment amounts to €2 billion.

Our insights

Energy Transition Trends 2023

Energy security and affordability have become a major issue for many countries. Rising inflation, increasingly frequent and significant climate events, and an uncertain geopolitical and economic outlook provide a challenging backdrop for governments committed to net zero targets and keen to accelerate the development of low-carbon energy. We highlight some trends which focus on some of the innovations and legal developments that we are seeing in a number of sectors to meet these challenges.

Find out more about Energy Transition Trends 2023

Energy Transition TV: What's on the horizon for Interconnectors?

Bryony Theaker predicts interconnectors to take centre stage.

Find out more about Energy Transition TV: What's on the horizon for Interconnectors?

Multi-Purpose Interconnectors: Enabling the transmission of clean energy in the UK

As the UK strives towards its ambitious target of 50GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, large-scale investment will be required in the offshore wind industry. It is increasingly clear that point-to-point connections between offshore wind farms and the grid will not be efficient for an expansion of this magnitude.

Find out more about Multi-Purpose Interconnectors: Enabling the transmission of clean energy in the UK

Acceleration of court proceedings in the infrastructure sector

Amidst current energy shortages and the ongoing energy transition, the German government’s new proposal hopes to speed up the implementation of major infrastructure projects.

Find out more about Acceleration of court proceedings in the infrastructure sector

REPowerEU: European Commission’s proposed plan for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy

In 2022, in response to the unprecedented energy price crisis, the European Commission presented REPowerEU, a new set of proposed measures to create an affordable, secure, resilient and sustainable EU energy market, including a State aid Temporary Crisis Framework to support affected companies.

Find out more about REPowerEU: European Commission’s proposed plan for more affordable, secure and sustainable energy

New EU guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy: which sectors could benefit

On 1 January 2022, the revised Guidelines of the European Commission on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy entered into force, extending the scope of the previous Guidelines to new areas in order to achieve the goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.

Find out more about New EU guidelines on state aid for climate, environmental protection and energy: which sectors could benefit