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Renewable energy

Comprehensive legal solutions across the renewable energy sector, helping clients develop, build, operate, finance and invest in projects and navigate the challenges of energy transition.

Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, UK

The renewable energy sector has seen immense growth over the past 30 years, yet meeting global climate targets requires even faster and larger-scale deployment of renewable energy projects.

Our renewable energy lawyers understand the financial, policy, and regulatory challenges the sector faces. We have been at the forefront of legal advice to drive deployment of these technologies and projects and will continue to play a pivotal role in driving renewable energy projects to completion in the years to come.

Burges Salmon are specialists in renewable energy law, with over 30 years’ experience in this sector. We have built a formidable reputation helping clients deliver innovative, first-of-a-kind renewable energy projects. Our team brings decades of experience across all the legal specialisms needed throughout a renewable energy project’s lifecycle, from financing and regulatory compliance, power sales and offtakes and price support mechanisms to development, operation and decommissioning.

We have extensive experience in every key technology, including wind, solar, wave and tidal energy, geothermal, biomass, anaerobic digestion biofuels, hydro and hydrogen.

Through our active participation in key strategy groups such as RenewableUK, Renewable Energy Association, and Scottish Renewables, we continue to shape the future of renewable energy in the UK. And provide insights which help clients legally futureproof their projects, investments, and businesses.

Services

Grid

Legal advice on connection agreements, shared grid arrangements IDNOs and appointments of ICP’s dealing with transmission and distribution and the OFTO regime for offshore.

Energy regulation

Experts in navigating complex regulatory frameworks and incentive/price support mechanisms.

M&A

Joint ventures, joint development agreements, equity fundraisings and structuring across the full clean energy spectrum including community energy models.

Disputes

Experience in dispute avoidance and all resolution forums including mediation, adjudication, expert determination, arbitration and litigation.

Land agreements and land assembly

Deep experience of all types of land agreements required for projects and multi-landowner assembly including seabed leasing and specialist areas of land law across the UK jurisdictions including, crofting rights, agricultural tenancies, dealing with road and rail infrastructure.

Consenting

Deep expertise and track record in NSIP, DNS/WIC and TCPA consenting routes for renewable projects including advocacy at hearings and inquiries throughout the UK jurisdictions.

Fuel supply and energy sales and route to market

Vast experience of all types of power purchase, private wire and route to market agreement for energy and green certificates.

Construction and procurement

Experts in all forms of construction and equipment contracts and Balance of Plant needs.

Financing

Covering all forms including construction project finance, acquisition financing portfolio and asset hedging and derivatives, securitisations and debt restructuring.

Decommissioning and repowering

Knowledge of decommissioning requirements, bonds, repowering requirements, decommissioning contracts and strategies on and offshore.

Our expertise

From regulatory compliance to project development, we ensure comprehensive support and guidance throughout the lifecycle of your renewable energy projects, designed to address your unique challenges..

Solar

Our solar team offers deep expertise in solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects, advising on first-of-a-kind developments across the UK. We provide comprehensive legal services that cover the entire project lifecycle—from real estate and planning to construction, financing, and regulatory compliance. Our team also advises on investment in, and acquisition of, solar portfolios.

Recognised as a leading law firm in clean energy M&A, we have consistently ranked among the top two most active law firms in the Clean Energy Pipeline Global League Tables. We are active members of key industry bodies, including Solar Energy UK and RenewableUK.

Community energy

Our team advises a broad range of clients on all aspects of community energy projects. We help utilities and developers deliver appropriate community benefits or local ownership, advising on suitable structures and compliance with UK government policies. We also support local authorities and councils in their involvement with community energy initiatives and benefit delivery.

Additionally, we guide community groups on their own energy projects, including co-operative and community benefit society models. With a deep understanding of co-operative aims and the regulatory framework, we ensure that community-led energy projects are successful and sustainably managed.

Wind power

The UK has been at the forefront of wind power, both onshore and offshore, and Burges Salmon has been advising the industry for over two decades. We supported many early onshore wind projects and continue to advise on every offshore wind round, including Round 4 and ScotWind. 

Our team has played a pioneering role in the UK’s first floating wind projects and has advised on numerous joint ventures, acquisitions, and financings. With expertise in energy regulation, route-to-market options, and corporate PPAs, we provide clients with a competitive advantage across all stages of wind power project development. 

Biomass projects

As many sectors focus on reducing carbon emissions, biomass projects are becoming vital to the country’s diverse energy mix. Burges Salmon has worked on some of the most high-profile biomass projects in the UK, advising on the entire project lifecycle—from real estate and planning to construction, financing, and operations.

Our team offers expertise in fuel supply contracts and regulatory issues, both crucial to project success. We also collaborate with our nationally acclaimed transport team for power station deliveries. As active members of the REA Biomass group, we help shape the future of the biomass sector.

Wave and tidal energy

The UK offers significant commercial opportunities in marine energy projects as a global leader in wave and tidal energy. At Burges Salmon, we have advised on key projects such as MeyGen, the world’s largest tidal stream project, and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

Our experience spans the full project lifecycle, from fundraising and tendering to construction and operation. With deep regulatory knowledge and industry insight, we drive projects to completion, supporting developers, investors, and the supply chain. We are also active members of marine energy working groups and frequent speakers at industry events.

Solar

Our solar team offers deep expertise in solar photovoltaic (PV) power projects, advising on first-of-a-kind developments across the UK. We provide comprehensive legal services that cover the entire project lifecycle—from real estate and planning to construction, financing, and regulatory compliance. Our team also advises on investment in, and acquisition of, solar portfolios.

Recognised as a leading law firm in clean energy M&A, we have consistently ranked among the top two most active law firms in the Clean Energy Pipeline Global League Tables. We are active members of key industry bodies, including Solar Energy UK and RenewableUK.

Community energy

Our team advises a broad range of clients on all aspects of community energy projects. We help utilities and developers deliver appropriate community benefits or local ownership, advising on suitable structures and compliance with UK government policies. We also support local authorities and councils in their involvement with community energy initiatives and benefit delivery.

Additionally, we guide community groups on their own energy projects, including co-operative and community benefit society models. With a deep understanding of co-operative aims and the regulatory framework, we ensure that community-led energy projects are successful and sustainably managed.

Wind power

The UK has been at the forefront of wind power, both onshore and offshore, and Burges Salmon has been advising the industry for over two decades. We supported many early onshore wind projects and continue to advise on every offshore wind round, including Round 4 and ScotWind. 

Our team has played a pioneering role in the UK’s first floating wind projects and has advised on numerous joint ventures, acquisitions, and financings. With expertise in energy regulation, route-to-market options, and corporate PPAs, we provide clients with a competitive advantage across all stages of wind power project development. 

Biomass projects

As many sectors focus on reducing carbon emissions, biomass projects are becoming vital to the country’s diverse energy mix. Burges Salmon has worked on some of the most high-profile biomass projects in the UK, advising on the entire project lifecycle—from real estate and planning to construction, financing, and operations.

Our team offers expertise in fuel supply contracts and regulatory issues, both crucial to project success. We also collaborate with our nationally acclaimed transport team for power station deliveries. As active members of the REA Biomass group, we help shape the future of the biomass sector.

Wave and tidal energy

The UK offers significant commercial opportunities in marine energy projects as a global leader in wave and tidal energy. At Burges Salmon, we have advised on key projects such as MeyGen, the world’s largest tidal stream project, and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

Our experience spans the full project lifecycle, from fundraising and tendering to construction and operation. With deep regulatory knowledge and industry insight, we drive projects to completion, supporting developers, investors, and the supply chain. We are also active members of marine energy working groups and frequent speakers at industry events.

Examples of our work

Offshore wind projects

We have advised on every UK offshore energy development fixed and floating wind round and the likes of Orsted, Oceanwinds, RWE, and Vattenfall on key offshore wind projects, including Hornsea, Kentish Flats, Triton Knoll, and Awel Y Mor, providing legal support on development and commercial contracts as well as M&A in the sector.

Onshore wind

Our clients have included Statkraft, Vattenfall, RWE, Peel, Wind2, Engie, Edf, advising on gigawatts of deployment from the largest projects to local community owned or on-site located turbines.

Solar

Acting for the likes of Anesco, OPDE. Atrato, Bluefield, Statkraft, Baywa, on all types of projects whether ground-mounted, commercial rooftop, domestic or floating.

Marine energy

Our clients have included MeyGen, Wave Hub, EMEC, Open Hydro, Magallanes and Minesto, on projects at commercial and demonstration wave and tidal sites around the UK.

Clean heat

Whether heat pumps, utilisation of waste heat, hydrogen or geothermal, the team has experience it can apply.

Biomass, Biofuels and AD

Decades of experience on fuelled renewable energy projects and their offtakes. 

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What others say

“Great team, always ready to help and support. They contribute a lot to the success of a deal, and have high knowledge and experience of the renewable sector (Legal 500 UK, 2025 – London, Renewables) ”

Legal 500 UK 2025

“The team has excellent in depth knowledge of their subject matter and are very supportive and instructive from both a legal and commercial perspective. I have worked with several law firms over the years, but Burges Salmon is my most trusted advisor (Legal 500 UK, 2025 – Scotland, Energy) ”

Legal 500 UK 2025

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