Renewable Energy

Areas of Focus

We advise across all renewable technologies, including:

• Wind, both offshore (fixed and floating foundation) and onshore
• Solar (rooftop, ground-mounted and utility-scale)
• Hydroelectricity
• Energy storage
• Bioenergy (biofuels, biogas and biomethane)
• Geothermal
• Hydrogen and derivative fuel production (green ammonia, e-methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)).

We are best known for our capabilities in the following core areas across the renewables sector:

• Project finance, development, construction, permitting, operations and maintenance
• Mergers & acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures and securities & corporate governance 
• Liability management, financial restructuring, distressed and special situations
• International trade, lobbying & public policy and export controls & economic sanctions
• Energy regulatory
• Tax structuring & equity financing
• Environmental, social & governance (ESG).

We have significant experience across the full life cycle of renewables projects:

• Development, construction, operation and maintenance
• Financing and refinancings, whether using bank debt, institutional capital or private credit
• Acquisition and disposals and joint ventures
• Financial restructurings and special situations
• Government support and incentives, including federal tax credits and grants
• Energy regulatory advice
• Feedstock and offtake arrangements
• Green corporate and virtual power purchase agreements
• Electricity, emissions and renewable certificates of origin trading
• Battery, energy storage, flexibility and route-to-market services
• Land and permitting issues
• Grid network and transmission infrastructure and assets.

Cross-Disciplinary Team

Our renewable energy lawyers draw upon the resources of a full-service, global firm with coverage and extensive experience in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, Latin America, Asia, Canada, Africa and the Middle East. We collaborate seamlessly across borders and disciplines.

Leading Energy Regulatory Lawyers

Our top-tier energy regulatory team guides clients through market participation in the capacity market and other regulations relevant to renewable energy, including those in the United States for Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Pennsylvania, Jersey, Maryland Power Tool (PJM) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

Top-Tier Tax Credit & Tax Equity Team

Our industry-leading tax team helps market participants seamlessly navigate the intricacies of tax credits, including section 45Q, low-carbon fuel standards (LCFS) and renewable identification numbers (RINs) as well as new investment opportunities related to the Inflation Reduction Act. Within our ranks are also seasoned projects lawyers with deep experience in emerging financing models, including public-private partnerships.

Prominent Public Policy Practice

Our prominent lobbying & public policy practice includes many former members of Congress and regulators. These lawyers and advisors help clients navigate the key regulatory and policy issues facing carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen and other sustainable fuel projects in markets around the world.

ESG

In addition, we assist clients addressing ESG issues relevant to the sector, including reputation and risk management (e.g., greenwashing, authenticity and substantiation of claims), ESG data reporting and disclosure compliance and embedding ESG factors in investment, lending and governance processes.

Representative Matters

• Represented The Crown Estate on all energy aspects of its world-leading, multibillion-dollar offshore wind portfolio, including in relation to the design and delivery to seven million homes of major public tender rounds for fixed- and floating-foundation offshore wind capacity.*
• Represented SunPower Corporation in the development and sale of multiple large, utility-scale photovoltaic solar projects in California, including the development of both phases of the Antelope Valley Solar Project and the sale of a 4.7 gigawatt (GW) portfolio of utility-scale development solar assets to Clearway Energy Group (NRG Renew).
• Advised Infracapital on its majority investment in Zenobe, an electric vehicle (EV) fleet solution, renewables and battery flexibility provider (IJGlobal’s ESG Infrastructure Deal of the Year 2021).*
• Counseled a private equity sponsor in the purchase and installation of 500 megawatt (MW) of batteries for multiple utility-scale solar and storage projects located in California, as well as stand-alone battery storage units for 37 utility-scale battery storage projects in the southwest U.S.
• Advised Phanes Group on the development and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) financing of the 46 MW Nkhotakota solar farm in Malawi, one of the first power purchase agreements (PPAs) signed with Malawi’s national utility (ESCOM) and Malawi’s first competitive power sector tender.*
• Represented Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in its construction and tax equity financing of a 200-megawatt (MW) wind project located in Oklahoma.
• Advised Fluor on the sale of its 50% interest in the 2 GW Seagreen Scottish offshore wind farm.*
• Represented Rabobank as mandated lead arranger on establishing a credit facility of up to $200 million to support CleanCapital’s pipeline of distributed solar and energy storage projects.*
• Advised lenders on a bridge financing and note purchase agreement in relation to First Hydro Company, which manages and operates the U.K.’s pumped storage plants at Dinorwig and Ffestiniog in Wales, which provide power and energy storage and flexibility services to the grid.*
• Represented Convergent Energy and Power in the negotiation of a settlement agreement establishing a first-of-its kind pilot program for energy storage resources participating in the regulation markets operated by PJM Interconnection LLC.*
• Advised a global leading solar photovoltaic (PV) developer on a global partnering agreement with an international oil major.*
• Represented Equinor in the $1.1 billion sale of a 50% interest in two U.S. offshore wind development projects to BP, including formation of a partnership to develop and operate the Empire Wind project offshore New York and Beacon Wind project offshore Massachusetts.*

*Matters handled by Akin partners prior to joining the firm.