Overview

The UK is world leading in wave and tidal energy. Home to state-of-the-art testing facilities and first-of-a kind demonstration and array projects, the UK offers major commercial opportunities in marine energy projects.

We have advised the marine energy sector for many years. Our wave and tidal energy team has been involved in key marine energy projects – covering wave, tidal stream, tidal barrages and tidal fences – including MeyGen, the world’s largest tidal stream project, and EMEC, the European Marine Energy Centre.

We have the track record, industry insight and regulatory knowledge to drive a project to completion having advised developers, investors and the supply chain. From fundraising and tendering to construction and operation, our advice covers the entire project lifecycle. We sit on many of the influential working groups in marine energy and are regular speakers at key industry events.

Our work has earned us a number of industry awards.

Areas of focus

Our wave and tidal energy expertise includes the following:

  • Grant funding and State aid.
  • Corporate fundraising and mergers and acquisitions.
  • Acquisition and disposals.
  • Energy regulation and renewable energy support mechanisms including contracts for difference.
  • Procurement and supply chain packages and advice.
  • Real estate/offshore leases.
  • Consenting on and offshore.
  • Power and Grid.
  • Intellectual property protection.
     
Experience

Advising MeyGen (tidal) on its 400 MW tidal stream project at the Inner Sound in Pentland Firth.

Advising Magallanes (tidal) on its tidal project at the Morlais site of Anglesey Wales.

Advising EMEC (wave & tidal) on a variety of development issues at its test centre in Orkney.

Advising Marine Energy Wales on the Pembroke Marine Energy Test Area.

Advising Minesto (tidal) on securing, through The Crown Estate’s demonstrator zone procurement, seabed zone rights for its tidal project at Holyhead Deep and on its deployment.

Advising ScotRenewables (now Orbital) (tidal) on various aspects of its business and deployments at EMEC.

Advising Tocardo (tidal) on its deployment at EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre).

We advise Kepler Energy (tidal fence) on all aspects of its Tidal Fence business including group applications, formation, protection of IP and its first project.

Advising West Somerset Lagoon on its proposed tidal lagoon off the South West Coast of England.

Advising Open Hydro (tidal) on consenting and route-to-market issues.

We advised International Power on its investment in tidal energy developer MeyGen Limited. MeyGen was at the time a joint venture between Atlantis Resources Corporation, International Power and Morgan Stanley.

We advised Tidal Generation Limited (tidal) on the recommended offer by Rolls-Royce Group plc for the entire issued share capital of TGL.

Advising Swan Turbines (tidal) on developing its tidal technology, protecting its intellectual property and grant funding and corporate fundraising.

Advising developers such as GWave (wave), Carnegie (wave) and Nova (tidal) on State aid compliance.

Advising The Carbon Trust on its initiative in marine energy called the Marine Energy Challenge which supported the development and increased understanding of wave and tidal stream energy technologies.

Meet the team
Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Renewable Energy
  • Environment
Euan Bremner

Euan Bremner Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Scottish Real Estate
  • Head of Northern Irish Real Estate
Julian Boswall

Julian Boswall Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Infrastructure
  • Planning and Compulsory Purchase
Nick Graves

Nick Graves Partner

  • Head of Corporate
  • Corporate Advice
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
John Houlden

John Houlden Partner

  • Head of Public Sector
  • Head of Procurement and Subsidy Control
  • Projects
Lloyd James

Lloyd James Partner

  • Construction and Engineering
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Infrastructure

What others say...

Standout expertise in renewable and emerging technologies.
Chambers UK 2023

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