Skip to main content

Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance
All

Renewable energy

Growth of renewables is essential for energy transition

Renewable power will be needed on a massive scale to reach net zero, making the development and financing of the full range of renewable technologies a critical part of the global energy transition.

Our Global Renewables Group advises across all renewable technologies, including established technologies like offshore wind. We are active in both developed and emerging markets and advise on the full spectrum of transactions and issues relevant to the sector.

  • Offshore wind (floating and fixed)
  • Onshore wind
  • Solar (pv and concentrated)
  • Battery storage
  • Biomass and biofuels
  • Geothermal
  • Hydropower

Recent client highlights 

  • Chevron renewable fuels, US: advised Chevron in its US$1.2 billion renewable fuels joint venture with Bunge Limited.*
  • Sustainable biofuel venture, US: advised Alder Fuels, a cleantech company, on its joint venture with United and Honeywell to create one of the largest sustainable biofuel ventures in aviation history and its associated purchase agreement with United for the sale and purchase of 1.5 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).*
  • Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm, UK: Advised AXA IM Alts and Crédit Agricole Assurances on the acquisition of a 50% stake in the 1.3 GW Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm, now the world’s largest wind farm. Global M&A Deal of the Year 2022, PFI Awards
  • Lekela Power, pan-Africa: Advised Actis and Mainstream Renewable Power on the sale of Lekela Power to a joint venture between the Infinity Group and Africa Finance Corporation; Africa's biggest renewable energy deal.
  • La Unión and La Mata solar projects, Colombia: Advised IDB Invest and Bancolombia on a COP 656 billion multi-tranche and multi-currency financing to developer Solarpack to finance solar PV projects. This is the largest solar plant financing in Colombia to date.

* Matters completed by Jonathan Castelan at a previous firm.

 

  • Zarafshan wind project, Uzbekistan: Advised Asian Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, First Abu Dhabi Bank, International Finance Corporation and Natixis as lenders on a 500 MW wind power project in Uzbekistan. Asia Pacific Renewables Wind Deal of the Year 2022, IJGlobal Awards
  • Benban solar project refinancing, Egypt: Advised a financial services group on a project bond refinancing of 6 PV projects in the Benban Solar Park in Egypt. Project Bond Deal of the Year 2023, Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards; MENA Renewables Refinancing Deal of the Year 2022, IJGlobal Awards.
  • Red Sea Wind Energy, Egypt: Advised the sponsors Engie, Toyota Tsusho & Eurus and Orascom Construction on the 500MW RED SEA WIND ENERGY project in Egypt, which will be one of the largest in Africa.
  • EolMed floating offshore wind farm, France: Advised the commercial banks on all aspects of the financing of the Eolmed pilot floating offshore wind farm. The financing of this project will accelerate the development of the floating wind technology in France. European Renewable Energy Deal of the Year 2022, IJ Global Awards
  • Sunsure Energy, India: Advised Partners Group on the international aspects of its acquisition of a majority stake in Sunsure Energy, a leading renewable energy and decarbonisation solutions platform in India

 
  • BTE Renewables, pan-Africa: Advised Actis on the sale of BTE Renewables to Engie and Meridiam for a total enterprise value of US$1 billion. BTE is the second largest renewables player in Africa, focusing primarily on utility scale wind and solar projects.
  • Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm, the Netherlands: Advised Vattenfall on the structuring of the 1.5GW offshore wind farm, and on the sale of 49.5 percent of the facility to BASF. This will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world once commissioned. European Renewable Energy ESG Award 2022, IJGlobal Awards.
  • Karapinar solar project, Turkey: Advised the bank consortium and UK Export Finance on a ground-breaking renewable energy project financing in Turkey. European ESG Deal of the Year 2021, PFI Awards
  • Greater Changhua Offshore Wind Farm, Taiwan: Advised CDPQ on its landmark US$2.7 billion acquisition and holdco financing in Taiwan’s offshore wind farm. Project Finance Deal of the Year 2022, IFLR Asia Pacific Awards; Renewables & Energy Transition Deal of the Year 2021, IJ Investor Awards
  • Al Dhafra Solar Project, UAE: Advised the lenders on the landmark project financing of a 2GW solar plant in the Al Dhafra region of the UAE. Once constructed, the project will be the largest PV power project in the world to date. MENA Renewables Deal of the Year 2020, IJGlobal Awards

Our insights

Germany event

Podcast: Construction Law Conversations: Energy Transition projects in Asia Pacific – Wind projects (Part 2)

This is the second episode in our Construction Law Conversations series on Energy Transition projects in Asia Pacific, focusing on common risks on wind projects, and practical tips on how those risks can be mitigated.

 Listen here
unlocking-uks-net-zero-investment_1000x600

Unlocking UK's net zero investment

As one of the first countries to enact net zero emissions legislation, the UK has led in its ambitions to deliver the net zero transition. The CBI, in partnership with Clifford Chance, worked with investors and businesses to identify “pull factors” for net zero investments and propose immediate actions that need to be prioritised by the government to strengthen the UK’s offer.

 Find out more about Unlocking UK's net zero investment
Infrastructure_1000x600px

Repowering Renewable Energy Assets in Spain

Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition has approved grants for wind repowering, hydro renewal and wind turbine blade recycling projects, allocating EUR 222.5 million of Next Generation funds. However, there are numerous regulatory restrictions on using these grants for repowering. The restrictions will impact almost 24,000 MW of wind power (set to increase to 33,000 MW by 2025) that is over 15-years old, the age after which unrestricted repowering is the best solution for extending the useful life of renewable projects.

 Find out more about Repowering Renewable Energy Assets in Spain
energy-transition-trends-2023_1000x600

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
Germany event

10 key trends in the wind industry in the Netherlands for 2023

This briefing looks at 10 trends and developments and what they could mean for the wind industry in the coming year. These trends will play a role in shaping the future of the wind industry in the Netherlands and understanding their impact is essential for industry stakeholders.

 Find out more about 10 key trends in the wind industry in the Netherlands for 2023

Life after FIT? Corporate PPAs in Japan

In Japan, corporate power purchase agreements (Corporate PPAs) have recently come under the spotlight. Since the introduction of the Japanese feed-in tariff (FIT) regime in 2012, renewable power generators have been relying on attractive, 20-year, fixed price PPAs. Now, as the number of new FIT-based PPAs dwindles while demand for "clean" energy from corporate and industrial power consumers in Japan increases, the market for Corporate PPAs in Japan is expected to expand rapidly. Despite its potential, this market is still in its infancy, however. In this briefing we outline the unique aspects of the Japanese Corporate PPAs market from a regulatory perspective and draw some comparisons based on our experience with the development of the Corporate PPAs market in other jurisdictions.

 Find out more about Life after FIT? Corporate PPAs in Japan

Energy Transition TV: What's on the horizon for Floating Offshore Wind?

Dr. Florian Mahler discusses the utopian concept of Floating Offshore Wind.

 Watch more

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

Alex Leff considers tax credits in the renewables space.

 Watch more
Move carousel left Move carousel right

Related services

  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share via email
Back to top

Toolkits & Client Log-in