Energy transition newsletter

Transforming change into opportunity

Issue 2 – February 2023

Insights from our global team on the frontline of legal innovation and solutions for the energy transition

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Energy transition newsletter - February 2023

The Regulatory Energy Transition Accelerator: Enabling collaboration among the world’s energy regulators as they facilitate the move to net-zero

The transition to net-zero involves profound changes to how energy is produced and consumed, and requires the combined effort of many players, including government and policy makers, utilities, energy proponents and consumers.

Potential conflicts between the European CBAM and the WTO rules

As the EU increases its climate ambitions, there is a risk that its emissions reduction efforts are offset by increased emissions outside the EU from industries transferring their productive activities to countries where climate change policies are less stringent (‘Carbon Leakage’).

Is climate litigation driving the energy transition?

Throughout 2022, we continued to see legal action addressing issues of climate change – so-called “climate litigation”

“Climate cartel” or sustainability?

Around the globe, corporations face growing pressure from stakeholders – including shareholders, customers, employees and regulators – to make progress on ESG issues like sustainability.

International support crucial to decarbonization of the Indonesian nickel supply chain

An electric vehicle (EV) boom is underway.

Intellectual property (IP) and the renewable energy transition: Five critical IP issues

Energy companies are under increasing pressure to meet growing global energy demands and simultaneously accelerate global decarbonization efforts.

Reducing embodied carbon footprint: A key consideration to meet UK’s 2050 net-zero target

Embodied carbon from the construction and refurbishment of buildings is directly responsible for around 20 percent of built environment emissions in the UK and based on current figures, is likely to form over half of built environment emissions by 2035.

Offshore wind power in Greece

The introduction of a workable regulatory framework to harness the offshore wind potential of the Greek Seas has been in the works for quite some time.

Energy transition outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa forecast

DNV’s reports on energy transition including the report focussed on Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) highlights the different pressures faced by developing nations in reducing emissions.

Developing offshore wind energy in India

In June 2022, it was reported that India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) would open bids for offshore wind energy blocks.

Building cyber resiliency in the energy sector

For the energy sector, cybersecurity has been a top-of-mind issue for some time.

Australian offshore wind regulatory update

On 8 December 2022, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water released two guidance documents on the feasibility licence application process as well as the forms to be completed by feasibility licence applicants.

Recycling and Renewable Energy

End-of-life management of renewable energy is both a looming challenge and a potential opportunity.

Project Bonds and Energy Transition: A proven financing solution

The stricter monitoring/disclosure and liquidity requirements faced by banks in the wake of the global financial crisis mean that projects can often no longer be funded by traditional bank debt alone. The debt capital markets have stepped up to the challenge and project bonds are on the rise, particularly amidst the green finance boom.

Queensland’s SuperGrid

With the announcement of the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan (QEJP) and Queensland SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint (QSIB) on 28 September 2022, there has been a buzz about the magnitude of the opportunity for developers, investors, financers and the State – and the bold ambition expressed by our heavily coal and gas dependent State.

Global supply chain challenges and energy shortages and their impact on PF mining projects

Supply chain challenges, energy shortages: Impacts on PF mining projects

Global supply chain and energy shortage issues are having a continued impact on limited recourse project financed mining projects. Norton Rose Fulbright counsels Felicity Brown and Matt Hacking identify the current issues being faced by mining companies in the procurement and development of their projects, what steps mining companies can take to proactively deal with these challenges and mitigate their cost overrun exposure, and how these issues are being viewed by the financial institutions lending to these projects.

Thought Leadership

Energy transition: Transforming change into opportunity

While global demand for energy continues to rise, increasing pressure to support the decarbonisation of the industry has spearheaded radical change.

Global

Currents podcast

Currents features in-depth discussions on the latest developments in project finance

Global

Newswire

The Project Finance NewsWire reports on new developments affecting the power sector

Global

Energy Transition YouTube channel

Keep up with the pace of change via our new #EnergyTransition YouTube channel

Global

Road to COP29: Our insights

The 28th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP28) took place on November 30 - December 12 in Dubai.

Global

ESG and sustainability

Law for a sustainable future

Global

M&A Outlook 2024

With inflation easing and deal appetite rising, we expect to see promising early signs of a rebound in M&A activity.

Global

Climate change and sustainability disputes

Climate change and sustainability developments presents great opportunities but also manifest as a complex myriad of global legal, financial and reputational risks for companies, governments, directors and officers and other professionals operating in all sectors globally.

Global