Energy

Energy policy and regulation are important and complex. Ireland is still dependent on fossil fuels imports as will remain so for some time. Renewable energy, in particular wind and solar energy, continues to grow but planning and regulatory issues remain barriers.

Energy covers a wide range of matters from the traditional sources of coal, oil and gas to the various forms of renewable energy, including developments in energy efficiency and storage. We have vast experience in each of these areas.

We advise onshore wind developers on projects from planning, consents, connections, finance and construction, to the final PPA. We represented renewable companies before the Commission for Regulation of Utilities on many areas from connection terms, dispatch, to renewable self-consumers/communities. We are also advising clients on the development of solar projects and offshore wind projects. We are continuously involved in the acquisition of energy projects and joint venture and co-development opportunities. We advised on one of the first Corporate PPAs in Ireland for a large multinational client.

We are assisting a number of clients in relation to the development and roll out of new and emerging technologies, such as battery storage and electric vehicles.

We represent many of Ireland’s largest oil distributors and importers, advising on a variety of issues from competition law to commercial agreements. We have advised coal importers and distributors on various aspects of the regulation of the market including carbon reduction incentives.

We have acted on many of the large infrastructure projects, such as the East West Interconnector, a €700m strategic project of national importance.

Energy efficiency is also an area in which we are heavily involved. We devised the latest government contract on EPC or energy performance contracting, local energy supply and CHP supply contracts. We are also advising on district heating projects.

Key areas where clients seek our advice:

• Planning and environment.
• Consents, permits and licences.
• Energy regulation.
• Generation, networks, supply and trading.
• Oil and gas – upstream and downstream.
• Renewable – wind, biomass, solar generation, electric vehicles, battery storage and emerging technologies.
• Renewable heat and renewable transport.
• Project finance, construction, grid connection and PPAs.
• Acquisitions and joint ventures.
• Biofuels.
• Carbon trading.
• Dispute resolution.
• Carbon sequestration.
• District heating.
• Energy efficiency.

“Very quick to turn things around and provide advice in respect of more technical aspects.”  Chambers Europe, 2021

“Siobhan McCabe is remarkably knowledgeable and equally commercial. She makes the complex understandable and the aspirational achievable. An excellent head of department that leads by example. She is not only one to watch – her time is now. She and her team respond to complex matters quickly and go beyond what lawyers usually would do. Great to have in your corner.”  Legal 500, 2021

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Siobhan McCabe
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Philip Lee
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Alice Whittaker
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John Given
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Hugh Cummins
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Eoghan Doyle
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