Authors: Łukasz Karpiesiuk, Grzegorz Pizoń, & Łukasz Bondaruk

A growing trend is the development of electromobility as one of the strategic aspects of the Polish economy. Recently the stage of the legislative procedure was completed which involved gathering public comments on a draft regulation concerning a Low-Emission Transport Fund. The draft legislation would introduce specific financial tools to support development of the market and infrastructure of alternative transport fuels.

Authors: James Plumb, Partner & Timothy Bowles, Solicitor

In a further step towards lifting the moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of onshore unconventional reservoirs in the Northern Territory, the Territory government introduced the Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 (NT) (Bill) into Parliament on 29 November 2018.

As part of its commitment to enact the 135 recommendations arising out of the Independent Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing, the draft Bill proposes the introduction of the following changes to the legislative regime:

1. The introduction of a broad right for any person to seek judicial review of a decision made by the regulator under the Petroleum Act or the Petroleum (Environment) Regulations;
2. A requirement for applicants for a permit or licence to be 'appropriate persons'; and
3. A requirement for the holders of permits and licences to comply with Codes of Practice (to be prescribed under Regulation), and the potential for penalties to be imposed for breach of such Codes.

Read the entire article.

Author: Philip Daly

The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) announced its divestment of a combined €68m from fossil fuel companies on 4 January 2019.

This policy change is a result of the Fossil Fuel Divestment Act 2018, which became law in late December 2018. The Act provides for the divestment of ISIF from fossil fuel companies deriving more than 20% of their revenue from the exploration, extraction and/or refinement of fossil fuels.

Author: Rodrigo Figueroa

During the past couple of years at renewable energy conferences and industry events, the conversation regarding battery energy storage systems has focused on the prevailing notion that energy storage, from an emerging technology standpoint, is where traditional solar was roughly eight to 10 years ago.

In the utility-scale context, despite the increasing deployment of battery energy storage systems, some utilities are still hesitant to purchase energy storage systems because the costs and technology are still evolving. From a contractual standpoint, utility-scale battery energy storage system transactions present unique legal issues and require special analysis of traditional contract provisions.