Renewable energy solicitors

Energy from waste is about taking waste and turning it into a useable form of energy, including electricity, heat and transport fuels. This is clearly better in the fight against climate change than leaving it as landfill, but it is key that the residual waste being used has the right renewable content and is matched with plant that is efficient enough at turning the waste to energy.
Anaerobic Digestion is a process where organic matter, such as animal manure and food waste, is broken down by bacteria via a reactor to produce biogas and digestate. The energy in the biogas can then be used to produce heat and electricity.

The number of these plants is increasing and we have been involved in a number of projects, including for investors such as JLEN and Octopus.

We are one of Scotland’s leading legal advisers to community groups in relation to renewable energy projects. Our firm has extensive specialist experience and knowledge across the full spectrum of requirements and all stages of advising on a renewables project on behalf of a community group, whether the project is a stand-alone community owned project or a shared ownership project.

We have acted for more than 30 community groups in helping them through this process and in Calum MacLeod we have one of the leading lawyers in this area. We also act for Community Energy Scotland and Local Energy Scotland so understand the various grant and other loan schemes available to assist community bodies.

Hydropower is a method of power generation with historic origins and which played a vital role over the last century in connecting vast swathes of rural Scotland to the power grid and all by making use of two resources which are abundant in Scotland, water and mountains. Advances in technology have allowed hydropower projects to be developed that produce a steady and reliable power for the long term.

We have substantial experience in dealing with hydropower projects both large scale hydro-electric generating stations as well as micro-hydro projects. We have been involved with over 100 large and small scale hydropower projects acting on behalf of Scotland’s largest landowner, Forestry and Land Scotland.

Our legal experts have considerable experience in advising on all real estate matters including agreements that are required over the watercourse and also the catchment area to ensure long term supply of water to the hydropower project. Our legal experts also advise on all funding aspects, as well as dealing with environmental and planning considerations and the connection of hydropower projects to the grid.

Our team members have been working on onshore wind since the first commercial wind farms were developed in Scotland and we have been involved for developers, landowners, planning authorities, funders and investors in approximately one third in mega watts of all operational wind farms.

For developers, we have worked on some of the largest wind farms including those at Clyde, Crystal Rig, Rothes and Windy Standard.

We also act for landowners including acting for Forestry Commission Scotland / Forestry and Land Scotland on the roll-out of large parts of the National Forest Estate for wind farms including the operating wind farms at Whitelee, Harestanes, Arecleoch, and Beinn an Tuirc.

For investors, funders and developer clients obtaining funding we have recently been involved in the acquisition and disposal of the Afton wind farm, the acquisition of the Solwaybank wind farm, the sale of the Andershaw wind farm and the funding of the Brockloch Rig and Crystal Rig wind farms and the purchase of Cumberhead Wind Farm.

We also assist clients on smaller single turbine developments and acquisitions. Our services include planning advice; all aspect of land work from exclusivities, options and leases to title examination work, production of certificates of title and negotiating rights with crofters or agricultural tenants; construction work; funding advice; advice on grid agreements and power purchase agreements.

As Scotland’s offshore wind market starts to gather pace through a formal Scotwind leasing round, we are well placed to meet your needs.

Our team have already been involved in supply chain work for the Beatrice offshore wind farm through our work at Wick Harbour; accommodating the onshore substations and cables for the proposed Neart na Gaoithe wind farm through our work for the adjoining developers; acquiring a