The liberalisation of the Irish electricity market and the Single Electricity Market have introduced fundamental market reform, additional wide-ranging regulation and heavily revised industry codes and licensing. We have been to the fore in advising existing and prospective market participants on Ireland’s evolving energy sector. We provide specialist advice in all areas of regulation and compliance including policy developments and legislative reforms emerging at EU level, from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) and from the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).
We specialise in advising on the acquisition, procurement, development, financing, construction and operation of generation plant, and have acted on projects to deliver and operate distillate fired OCGT plant, gas fired CCGT plant and large scale CHP plants, wind farms and waste-to-energy installations.
We have advised on various aspects of the grid code and the new electricity market, including unit registration, licensing, compliant bidding, physical and financial power purchase agreements; connecting to the transmission and distribution system, including on contestability; priority dispatch; and end user supply contracts.
We actively monitor and participate in the many market consultations.
Our experience includes advising:
ESB on the acquisition of Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE), the Northern Ireland electricity transmission and distribution business of the Viridian Group.
ESB Novusmodus on its investment in Wind Energy Direct, an "on-site" wind energy developer.
Keelings in relation to the construction of a Chp plant with associated carbon capture facilities
Glanpower in relation to the development of a number of HE-CHP Pyrolysis plant utilising municipal waste, biomass and bio-gas.
Preferred Bidder in relation to the sale by tender auction of Energia, which included conventional and renewable generation assets and a developed retail supply business.
Aughinish Alumina Limited in relation to all its activities undertaken in Ireland, including: the procurement and construction of the 160MW CHP plant; its significant fuel oil and gas supply arrangements; its CfD with the ESB in relation to the SEM; its carbon hedging and trading arrangements; on its extension to its Bauxite Residue Storage Facility at its alumina refinery; and in relation to one of the largest global energy and commodities transactions where Rusal acquired the alumina assets of Glencore International.
Pratt & Whitney on entering into a proposed turnkey contract for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of two oil fired gas turbine generators sets.
RWE Ireland in relation to its O&M contract with a 380MW gas fired CCGT plant and its gas supply and tolling agreement.
RWE Gmbh in relation to the disposal of its Irish gas supply division.
E.ON on operational and regulatory issues in relation to its 130MW Edenderry peat burning power plant and its subsequent disposal of that plant to Bord na Mona.
JP Morgan Venture Energy Corp on its successful takeover of EcoSecurities Group plc.
Enercon GmbH and Aloys Wobben in relation to a patent dispute concerning turbine supplier, Vestas.
ConocoPhillips on providing a serviced site to Bord gais on which to construct a 440MW gas fired CCGT plant at Whitegate, Co. Cork.
Atlantic Fuel Supply Company, on the design, build and financing of a major oil terminal facility at Foynes Port County Limerick.
Bioverda in relation to the purchase of the waste to energy assets of Irish Power Systems including landfill gas generation assets with a generating capacity of 38MW.
Gazprom in relation to supply arrangements for the Irish I&C sector.
Flogas Natural Gas in relation to its gas procurement and trading arrangements and its downstream domestic gas supply business.
Co-gen in respect of its proposals to roll out small/medium sized CHP generators to industrial demand sites.
We advise numerous clients on wind farm projects in relation to Renewable Supports/REFIT and banking and equity funding for such projects.
We are consistently ranked as one of the leading Energy & Natural Resources law firms in Ireland.
Department
'The dedicated energy team at this leading firm continues to attract prominent work across the field'.
Chambers Europe, 2012 - Energy & Natural Resources
William Fry offers a ‘broad depth of industry knowledge’ and provides ‘sound, relevant advice'.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2011 - Projects, Energy & Natural Resources
The team's 'experience, knowledge and practical approach have been hugely helpful, particularly when dealing with new markets and regulations'.
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Energy & Natural Resources
William Fry ‘holds a diverse team and can bring in relevant experience as required’ and response times are considered ‘considerably better than the rest’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Projects, Energy & Natural Resources
William Fry has a ‘good customer service ethic’ and a ‘huge amount of experience and expertise’. Clients praise the team’s ‘first class industry knowledge’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2009 – Projects, Energy & Natural Resources
Impressing clients with the commitment and hands-on approach of its partners, "this team will work tirelessly to get the deals through", sources say.
Chambers Europe, 2009 – Energy & Natural Resources
Team
Fergus Devine
Group head Fergus Devine 'plays a starring role in many of the firm's leading energy mandates and is held in high regard by market observers'.
Chambers Europe, 2012 - Energy & Natural Resources
Clients appreciate that Fergus' 'advice provides commercial value as well as legal expertise'.
Chambers Europe, 2011 - Energy & Natural Resources
Fergus Devine is ‘extremely hands on’.
Legal 500 EMEA, 2010 – Projects, Energy & Natural Resources
Fergus Devine is one of Ireland’s most experienced energy lawyers. Clients say he is "able to perfectly balance commercial and legal concerns".
Chambers Europe, 2009 - Energy & Natural Resources