Energy

New regulations strengthening the legal duties of larger energy companies to help energy users save energy have been brought into effect. The European Union (Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme) Regulations 2022 were signed today by Eamon Ryan, the minister for the environment, climate and communica

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised AIB on a corporate power purchase agreement with NTR plc to buy energy from two new solar farms which will provide 80 per cent of the bank's energy requirements. AIB is one of the first Irish companies to close such an agreement, which significantly

New planning exemptions for the installation of solar panels on the rooftops of houses and certain non-domestic buildings have been brought into effect. The regulations signed into law by housing minister Darragh O'Brien aim to bring Ireland into line with the EU's Solar Rooftops Initiative by makin

More that two-thirds of Ireland's energy sector believes that the government's delivery target for offshore wind is either extremely challenging or completely unrealistic, according to a survey by business law firm Mason Hayes & Curran. Just seven per cent of industry professionals believe that

An industry body representing oil importers, distributors and marketers in Ireland has announced plans for a judicial review of Irish government plans to reduce energy consumption. In order to help meet EU targets on energy consumption, introduced in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has announced a full investigation into East Cork Oil's proposed acquisition of a Kerry-based fuel distributor. East Cork Oil, one of the largest fuel distributors in Ireland, is seeking to acquire sole control of Misty Lane Holdings, includi

More houses and buildings will be able to install solar panels on their roofs without any requirement for planning permission under proposals now out for consultation. The consultation, which will close on 13 July 2022, follows a review of the solar panel planning exemptions set out in the Planning

The new maritime area consent (MAC) regime for renewable energy developments has come into effect, with the first consents expected to be issued to developers in the second half of 2022. The new regime enables the minister for the environment to issue MACs on an interim basis pending the establishme

William Fry LLP has announced the appointment of Rob McDwyer as a consultant in the firm's energy and natural resources group. A seasoned practitioner with over 21 years' experience, the last 12 of which were exclusively focused on renewable energy projects, Mr McDwyer was previously based in Austra

The renewable energy bursary established by Arthur Cox in memory of the firm's late partner Niamh Burke has opened for 2022 applications. The bursary is open to all those who are planning to study in a field related to renewable energy in Ireland, at postgraduate level. All relevant disciplines are

Strategic planning policy on oil and gas development in Northern Ireland is set to be reviewed to ensure it "remains appropriate in the context of the climate emergency". Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon said the review will include consideration of unconventional hydrocarbon development, comm

An online roundtable co-hosted by Belfast law firm Cleaver Fulton Rankin has explored the potential for Northern Ireland to develop hydrogen generation as a means of harnessing onshore and offshore wind energy. The firm, in partnership with Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks), rece

An oil giant has been ordered to cut its global carbon emissions in a landmark ruling involving 17,000 co-plaintiffs. Royal Dutch Shell was ordered by a court in The Hague to lower its emissions by 45 per cent by the end of 2030 as compared with 2019 levels in a case brought by Friends of the Earth.

UK law firm Shoosmiths has become a founding member of Hydrogen NI, a new group established to represent organisations with an interest in developing Northern Ireland's clean hydrogen economy. The new group counts companies such as Phoenix Natural Gas, B9 Energy Storage, Solo Renewables, Green Energ

This year's recipients of the memorial bursary established in the memory of the late Arthur Cox partner Niamh Burke are Laura Nagle and Criodán Ó Murchú. The annual bursary is administered by Wind Energy Ireland and offers up to €50,000 to individuals wishing to study