Renewable Energy and Infrastructure

The global energy transition is progressing rapidly, necessitating significant investments in the coming years. While hydropower has traditionally been Norway’s leading renewable energy source, recent years have seen wind power, bioenergy, and district heating become key focus areas. Emerging energy solutions such as offshore wind, solar power, and hydrogen are also gaining traction. As a comprehensive provider of legal advice, we support both Norwegian and international stakeholders throughout the renewable energy and related infrastructure value chain.

Our lawyers have participated in most of the major development projects, transactions, and restructurings in the industry recently. Our extensive experience and expertise ensure effective legal assistance, regardless of the complexity or scope of the legal issues involved. With deep knowledge of the industry’s characteristics and relevant regulations, we are well-equipped to anticipate changes and offer commercial and strategic advice tailored to the industry’s framework conditions

Our Services

M&A support including sales processes and reorganisations involving assets, rights, or ownership companies.

Comprehensive support for project development, including licensing processes and liaising with authorities. We assist with the negotiation and drafting of contracts for construction, deliveries, installation, operation, and maintenance, as well as offer ongoing assistance throughout the project phase.

Assistance with the negotiation and drafting of physical and financial PPAs, sales licenses, reporting requirements, and compliance with the regulatory framework for power markets and market conduct.

Advise on selecting and establishing company and project structures, including cooperation agreements and joint ventures. We address issues related to ownership, corporate governance, financing models, and tax and VAT considerations.

Advisement on traditional energy law, including the Waterfall Rights Act, the Watercourse Regulation Act, and the Energy Act, along with their associated regulations.

Guidance on grid regulation, covering connection processes, capacity queues/reservations, disputes with the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (RME), construction contributions, revenue cap, and tariffing issues.

Assistance in the development and financing of new energy solutions, such as offshore wind, solar power, and green hydrogen.

Drafting and negotiating landowner agreements, waterfall rights lease agreements, vacancy loss agreements, and agreements with reindeer owners and other affected parties.

Provide assistance to players in physical and digital infrastructure, including data centers, fiber operations, and charging infrastructure.

Navigation of subsidies and support schemes to optimise project funding and benefits

Handling of dispute resolution through ordinary courts, arbitration, and mediation.

On a weekly basis, our experts collects highlights from the renewable energy field in a newsletter

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Renewable energy is subject to heavy regulation, with rules varying based on whether the focus is on hydropower, onshore wind, solar, grid, or offshore wind development. These regulations are significantly influenced by EU legislation and are continually evolving. To navigate this complex and dynamic landscape, our renewable energy and infrastructure team combines multidisciplinary expertise to deliver market-leading advice. This enables us to address all legal aspects relevant to the renewables and infrastructure sector.

Our lawyers have extensive experience managing complex projects and support the entire lifecycle of renewable projects, from development and construction to operation, sale/refinancing, and decommissioning/repowering. The team holds a unique position in handling complex transactions and restructurings within the industry.

Additionally, our lawyers are market leaders in power purchase agreements (PPAs), regularly assisting both Norwegian and international clients in entering a wide range of physical and financial PPAs.

Wiersholm is a member of the Energy Law Group (ELG), comprising over 550 legal experts in energy law.

Wiersholm is an invaluable partner for drafting contracts to meet complex scenarios, as well as challenging us and coming up with ideas. The lawyers go to great lengths to understand where we are coming from commercially.
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