Renewables and Embedded Generation

Our lawyers have a wealth of experience advising on high profile Australian and international renewable projects, with expertise in wind, solar, hydro, bio gas and waste mine gas. We have helped our clients across the lifecycle of these projects, including acquisition, financing, development and management.

The team is experienced in dealing with issues associated with renewables and adopts a multi-practice approach covering all relevant areas of law including environment and planning, tax, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory, banking and finance, infrastructure, construction and intellectual property issues.

As our team members are recognised leaders in their fields, our clients engage us to provide strategic advice, linking legal capability with commercial acumen. With experience working together for a number of years, our team members collaborate on projects to produce smart, fast and cost efficient solutions.

Solar and Wind
We support our clients with the development, finance, construction, supply and maintenance of projects including: due diligence and mergers/acquisitions; commercial agreements (e.g. acquisition, construction, connection, operation & maintenance, offtake and financing); planning and environmental approvals; registration and jurisdictional licensing; structuring, tax and other project documents..

Hydropower and Water
We advise on the whole lifecycle of facilities from conception through to procurement, construction and operation, including: planning and environmental approvals; project structuring; strategic alliances; regulatory and licensing regimes for water treatment and desalination plants; project agreements (e.g. construction, operation & maintenance, supply, connection, off-take).

Waste-to-Energy and Cogeneration
We use our understanding of municipal waste streams and waste-to-energy facilities to advise on: owner operated facilities and fully outsourced O&M; fuel transport arrangements (road and rail); the wrapping of process technology risk; rights to access licences in a downside situation.

Carbon and Sustainable Energy
We draw upon our experience across the renewable energy regulatory framework to advise our clients on: regulatory, licensing and exemption regimes; renewable energy certificates and carbon credits; adherence to greenhouse schemes such as the Renewable Energy Target; embedded electricity networks; project structuring and agreements (e.g. construction, operation & maintenance, supply, connection).

Recent Work
One Sun: Solar Acquisition

Advised an international private equity investor on the proposed acquisition of a solar farm project being developed under the ACT solar auction scheme, including advice on the large scale solar feed in tariff regime.

Rio Tinto: Weipa Solar

Advised on electricity licensing requirements, project delivery, power purchase agreement and ARENA funding arrangements for the purchase of power from a new solar energy plant constructed at Weipa.

AGL Energy: Wind Farm Acquisitions

Performed due diligence and negotiated the acquisition of a number of wind farm developments, including: Oaklands Hill, Victoria – 63 MW, Barn Hill – 186 MW, Hallett, South Australia; North Brown Hill, South Australia – 132 MW and Macarthur, Victoria - 420 MW.

REPower: Wind Farm Advice

Acted on their successful bid and negotiation through to contract execution for the supply and install of 64 wind turbines for the Mt Mercer Wind Farm, on the EPC contract with Capital Wind Farm Pty Ltd for the Capital 2 Project, preparation of EPC and O&M contracts, the BoP contracts (civil and electrical) and subcontracts for the Bald Hills Wind Farm project, the FIDIC contract pertaining to their bid to Future Energy for the supply of 3 wind turbines for a new wind farm in Chepstowe, Victoria. Also acted on the Aararat Wind Farm project.

Springfield Corporation: Solar PV

Advised on the development of a solar PV project in a master planned community in Queensland. The project considered the installation of solar PV generating plant on rooftops of commercial retailers and supply of power to those networks and others within the precinct.