Case studies
Advising Walters Group’s clean energy arm, Pennant Walters, on multiple windfarm, solar and battery storage projects throughout the UK. This includes supporting our client to secure a revised planning permission for a windfarm development in Neath, increasing the tip height of the proposed turbines to 145m; and advising on a further extension of the very successful Pant y Wal Windfarm in Bridgend, with the addition of two turbines on land owned by The Welsh Ministers. Both projects were subject, respectively, to variations of extant permissions, including unilateral undertakings, community fund agreements, bonding arrangements and grid connection agreements.
Advising Cenin Renewables in relation to a solar farm lease to be entered into with the Welsh Ministers Legal Service for the Bro Tathan site in the Vale of Glamorgan. Given the past uses of the site, we have been providing detailed advice on the clauses within the solar farm option and lease, dealing with planning and infrastructure obligations. We have advised on all property, planning and infrastructure and regulatory and environmental provisions relating to the proposed development.
Advising Welsh Power in relation to the design and construction of six synchro condenser plants in the UK totaling more than £300m.
The plant contracts used the MF/1 form of contract and were negotiated with Spanish and German contractors. The civils works used the NEC4 ECC Option A and the cable contracts used the NEC Short ECC. As well as the usual risk profiles of these type of contracts, discussion, negotiations and drafting were also undertaken in relation to Covid-19, Brexit, the Ukraine war and the inflationary pressures in the industry.
Advising Welsh Water on a proposed hydroelectric scheme at Alwen Reservoir, Conwy. Our team is advising on all legal and environmental aspects of the hydroelectric power and wind power projects with a view to ensuring environmental considerations during conception, project build and maintenance phases do not prejudice water quality or water catchment.
Advising Pobl, a Registered Social Landlord, on the construction aspects of a development for 450 units at a site in Tonyrefail, which contained innovative aspects including PV, ground source heat pumps, electric batteries, EV chargers, bespoke smart meters and bespoke energy management systems. Pobl is working with Sero Homes/ Energy in relation to many of the innovative aspects and we have advised and negotiated a collaboration agreement between Pobl, PEDC and Sero, and development agreement with Sero, to capture the roles, responsibilities and obligations of the parties.
Advising Welsh Government on the provision of debt finance to the Newport Bus Company to assist with the electrification of the company’s bus fleet. We advised on the loan agreement, proposed security and the constitution of the company as a borrower (being wholly owned by a local authority). We worked closely with Zenobe Energy, the supplier of electric buses, batteries and charging points who held chattels security and delivered asset finance through the supply of goods.
