Worldwide: Energy Law

As the UK seeks to expand its offshore wind capacity and deliver on its net-zero ambitions, attention is increasingly turning to the innovation ecosystem that supports major energy infrastructure projects.

As AI-driven demand pushes data center power needs beyond the limits of aging grids, behind-the-meter generation is emerging as a route to faster and more reliable supply. However, BTM solutions bring their own financing, regulatory, and technology risks, from stranded asset exposure and lender concerns over power supply interruption to licensing uncertainty and storage challenges.

The UK government has proposed sweeping reforms to decouple electricity prices from volatile gas markets, introducing a voluntary Wholesale Contract for Difference scheme and increasing the Electricity Generator Levy from 45% to 55%. These measures aim to provide revenue certainty for renewable generators whilst protecting consumers from gas-driven price spikes that currently influence wholesale electricity costs approximately 60% of the time.

The UK's sustainable aviation fuels mandate, which took effect in January 2025, establishes one of the world's first legally binding requirements for SAF blending in aviation fuel.

As data centres transition from largely unregulated facilities to designated critical infrastructure, their environmental impact and energy consumption have come under unprecedented regulatory scrutiny. With the AI boom driving exponential growth in data centre capacity, new EU reporting requirements, energy audits, and forthcoming rating schemes are reshaping the investment landscape and forcing operators to balance digital expansion with climate commitments.

The UK's Future Homes Standard represents the most significant overhaul of energy efficiency requirements for new homes in England in over a decade, mandating that all new dwellings be "zero-carbon ready" by 2026. What does this future-proofing standard mean for developers, and how will the complex transitional arrangements and technical specifications reshape the residential construction landscape?

The Supreme Court's landmark decision in Orsted v HMRC has significant implications for offshore wind developers, denying capital allowances on essential survey and study costs totaling approximately £49 million.

In December 2024, the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Certification Framework Regulation ("CRCF") (EU 2024/3012) was published, with the aim of establishing a harmonised, voluntary certification system for three main activities...

New NSIP judicial review reforms have knocked out the Stonestreet Green Solar DCO challenge in just four months, with no right of appeal. What does this landmark ruling mean for infrastructure developers?