Energy & natural
resources

Most of the publications here can be viewed immediately, but in some cases you will need to order a publication by placing a tick beside its title, and filling in and submitting the form at the bottom of the page.

Briefings in English - 2011

The European Commission’s proposed offshore oil and gas safety legislation aims to tackle the lack of a harmonised safety regime for the EU‑wide industry. It also aims to cut the chances of a major accident or to limit its consequences. If enacted, it will put more responsibility on owners, operators, member states and the Commission. Both industry and regulators in the UK have expressed serious concerns about the potential for the legislation weakening the effectiveness of existing offshore safety regimes in the North Sea. Here we look at the Regulation’s scope and potential implications for the offshore industry. (November 2011)

The energy turnaround passed by the German government will permanently change the German energy market. By a multitude of laws passed this summer, the legislator has started implementing the proposed measures by substantially modifying the regulatory framework. Investments in specific renewable energy plants, energy storage units and power supply systems will benefit from the changes in the regulatory framework. This briefing explains the changes and looks at their possible implications. (September 2011)

The Fourth Energy Account sets out the incentives for installing photovoltaic power plants from 1 June 2011 to 31 December 2016. It is subject to the transitional rules of the Second Energy Account and the Third Energy Account for plants that started operating before 30 June 2011 and 31 May 2011 respectively. This briefing examines both the simplified authorisation procedures for installing and reconstructing renewable power plants and the related 20-year feed-in and feed-in premium tariffs. The new rules confirm some specific tariff rises, including a new increase of incentive to use material made in the EU. (May 2011)

The European Commission intends to introduce a tax on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with effect from 2013. The CO2 tax is intended to complement the existing European emission trading scheme for installations from the power and industry sector. CO2 tax credits are proposed to be in place until 2020 to avoid carbon leakage. Apart from this, there will be limited exceptions to the CO2 tax. Energy tax reforms are also proposed, whereby energy is to be taxed according to its energy content. Energy products used for the same purpose will have a uniform energy tax. No distinction will be made between energy used for business and non-business purposes. If it comes into force, the proposal will dramatically change the way energy is taxed in the EU. (April 2011)

The Spanish government recently published new legislation capping photovoltaic(PV) solar energy production and limiting entitlement to incentive feed-in tariffs. The measures are intended to correct the tariff deficit in the energy sector. Both changes are likely to have a significant negative impact on the overall revenues for Spanish PV projects in comparison with the expectations based on the original incentive schemes. This briefing considers judicial remedies to these changes under Spanish law and the Energy Charter Treaty. (March 2011)

Given that the MENA region has a substantial percentage of the world’s oil and gas reserves, it is important to examine the key drivers behind this region’s interest in developing nuclear power. This guide explores the challenges for nuclear new build in the MENA region and looks at how some key states are developing nuclear power programmes. (January 2011)

Briefings in German - 2011

Presseartikel von Gero von Daniels und Maximilian Uibeleisen, Rechtsanwälte im Bereich Umwelt, Planung und Regulierung im Berliner Büro der Kanzlei Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Financial Times Deutschland, 11 April 2011, S. 24

Briefings in Italian - 2011

Il 13 maggio 2011 è entrato in vigore il decreto del Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico del 5 maggio 2011 che definisce gli incentivi per la produzione di energia elettrica dal fotovoltaico per impianti entrati in esercizio tra il 1° giugno 2011 e il 31 dicembre 2016 (il c.d. IV Conto Energia), fatta salva l’applicazione del regime transitorio del II Conto Energia e del III Conto Energia per gli impianti entrati in esercizio rispettivamente entro il 30 giugno 2011 e il 31 maggio 2011. Questo briefing si prefigge di illustrare le conseguenze sulle agevolazioni di tipo autorizzativo per la costruzione e rifacimento degli impianti, nonché le tariffe ventennali legate alla produzione di energia elettrica di cui beneficerà il settore fotovoltaico fino al 31 dicembre 2016. (maggio 2011)

For information on the different formats of our publications, please view our accessibility page.

Search publications

News

Freshfields advises Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy on its US$244m IPO View

Freshfields advises international oil consortium on Karachaganak settlement with Kazakhstan View

High-growth markets

Reducing the risk of investing in high-growth markets.

Our low carbon energy team

Read about our low carbon energy team.

Corporate social responsibility report