The energy landscape is facing fundamental change on several fronts at the same time. The drive to decarbonise the economy, reduce geopolitical dependence and maintain security of supply is forcing a wholesale redesign of the sector. Governments are rewriting regulatory rulebooks. Electricity generating capacity is being expanded at an impressive rate. Renewable energy and large-scale battery storage are now mainstream but constrained by congested grids which require substantial reinforcement. Green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage/usage are slowly finding a foothold in the market. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide networks are being developed from scratch.

AKD’s energy team is closely involved in these developments. Whether advising on the latest district heating legislation, devising workarounds to overcome network congestion, assisting developers of offshore wind farms, hydrogen networks or carbon capture and storage projects, or testing the validity and interpretation of regulations in the courts, we are at the forefront of energy law.

One integrated team

Building a bankable business case for such investments amid the fast-changing, often conflicting demands of energy, environment, climate and competition regulations requires legally robust yet creative and original thought, cutting across traditional areas of the law.

That is why AKD’s Energy Industry Group brings together legal expertise from all areas of the law in one integrated team. This allows us to get each piece of the jigsaw and the entire picture in focus. Our sector expertise and integrated approach are consistently recognised by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

From drawing board to decommissioning

AKD supports clients across the Benelux throughout the full lifecycle of their project or activity ...

… from early-stage development and permitting, through contracting, financing, construction, operation and maintenance, secondary market acquisitions, to end-of-lifetime decommissioning ...

… from advice on upcoming regulations, through support on compliance, bringing test cases on the validity or interpretation of legislation, to managing the fall-out after a court has annulled a law…

We are in it for the long term. We stay the course. We get deals done and help projects happen.

For renewable and low-carbon projects  :

• Offshore and onshore wind, solar (PV), battery energy storage, hydrogen, geothermal, biomass and hybrid energy hubs
• Full lifecycle support, with a focus on permitting, subsidies, contracting, structuring, financing, construction, contractual disputes, changes in laws or permits during the operating phase, secondary deals (M&A) and decommissioning

For energy infrastructure and networks  :

• Disputes on network tariff regulation
• Disputes on grid access and congestion
• Connection and access contracts, in particular for private grids, hydrogen and CO₂ systems
• Smart energy hubs, industrial decarbonisation and investment frameworks for networks

For district heating  :

• Development of public, private or hybrid heat companies
• Contracting, governance, compliance and large-scale rollout
• Integration of waste heat, thermal storage and heat pumps