Energy

Plans for a series of new electricity interconnectors between Ireland and its neighbours will help tackle high energy prices and deliver on key climate goals, according to Pinsent Masons. In a policy statement published last month, the Irish government outlined proposals for a series of interconnect

The new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) has been officially launched by ministers, marking a significant milestone in the State's stewardship of the maritime area including plans for renewable offshore energy development. The newly-established authority will be responsible for regulating d

Ireland will be years off meeting its offshore renewable energy targets because of judicial reviews, costly appeals and planning delays, a new report from international law firm Clark Hill warns. "As matters stand, we believe Ireland will not deliver on its 2030 targets of 5GW of offshore wind produ

Despite plans for an EU withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty, a failure to deal with its sunset clause will continue to threaten action on the climate emergency, argues Eoin Jackson. On 7th July 2023, the European Commission announced its intention to facilitate a co-ordinated withdrawal of the

Legislation providing for a windfall tax on massive profits in the energy sector has been published. The Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Temporary Solidarity Contribution) Bill 2023 provides for a "temporary solidarity contribution" on windfall gains made in 2022 and 2023 by the fossil

The new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will be established in July, the government has announced. After its establishment on 17 July 2023, the new agency will have responsibility for assessing applications for maritime area consents (MACs) which will be required before developers of offsh

Ireland must withdraw from the discredited Energy Charter Treaty, argues Eoin Jackson. In February 2023, a leaked communication from the European Commission signalled that a collective EU withdrawal from the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) appeared "unavoidable". This follows on from announcements from

A bursary established in memory of the late Arthur Cox partner Niamh Burke will be awarded this year to Sean Murphy from Cavan and Karin Mackey from Mullinahone, Co Tipperary. The Niamh Burke Memorial Bursary fosters and supports study and research in the field of renewable energy. It annually award

Legislation providing for a windfall tax on massive profits in the energy sector has moved forward with the government's approval of the general scheme. The Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) Bill 2023 will introduce a "temporary solidarity contribution" based on taxable profits in the fos

Mason Hayes & Curran LLP has been named Leading Legal/Financial Consultancy of the Year at the 2023 Irish Wind Industry Awards. Sponsored by SSE Renewables, the awards celebrate the very best within the Irish wind industry and the commitment of key stakeholders to cutting carbon emissions and ma

UK law firm TLT has appointed Belfast-based renewable energy development expert David Miller as partner in the firm’s UK-wide real estate team. Mr Miller has over a decade of experience advising on the investment, sale and development of renewable energy projects as well as advising landowners

International law firm Clark Hill LLP has announced the establishment of an offshore wind practice group in Dublin. Aidan Eames, a consultant in the firm since its merger with Eames Solicitors just over a year ago, is leading the new group, which will serve clients investing in the rapidly growing I

New legislation has been developed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine to strengthen the government's ability to respond to a curtailment of oil supplies. Ministers have approved the publication of the Oil Emergency Contingency and Transfer of Renewable Transport Fuels Functions Bill 2022, w

A long-awaited government plan to tackle energy poverty should be put on a statutory footing with legally binding targets, Community Law & Mediation (CLM) has said. The law centre welcomed last week's publication of the Energy Poverty Action Plan, in particular the establishment of a cross-depar

The UK’s exit from the EU has plunged Ireland’s all-island energy market into a democratic deficit with decisions on Northern Ireland’s energy supply no longer in the hands of its citizens and government, new research has shown. The cross-border Single Electricity Market (SEM) was