Power Plant Construction

The increasing demand for energy and the steadily growing share of renewable energies make flexible and quickly controllable power plants indispensable. Modern gas-fired power plants in particular play a key role as a buffer and bridging technology, either to ensure security of supply or as part of the switch to more climate-friendly solutions.

Taylor Wessing has been providing comprehensive advice on the construction and conversion of power plants for many years, particularly in the context of sector coupling, gas, combined cycle power plants, CHP plants, hydrogen, large-scale battery storage, biomass power plants and offshore wind infrastructure. Our interdisciplinary team combines in-depth experience and legal expertise in plant construction, environmental and planning law, energy law, public procurement law and state aid and subsidy law. We also advise on sales, acquisitions and all aspects of financing as well as on antitrust and merger control issues. Thanks to our extensive experience, we also support large-volume projects with efficient, well-coordinated teams.

We support technically complex and legally demanding projects throughout their entire life cycle, from the pre-contractual planning and development phase to the structuring and implementation of tendering procedures and the drafting, negotiation and conclusion of the relevant project contracts. We also provide our clients with close support during the planning, construction and operational phases, for example in the context of contract and claims management. If necessary, we represent our clients in disputes both before state courts and in national and international arbitration proceedings.

With Taylor Wessing, you have a partner at your side who combines legal excellence with technical understanding and a clear focus on pragmatic, commercially viable results.

An overview of our services

We offer our clients full service: from legal support during the procurement process to contract drafting and implementation, all the way through execution, monitoring, and dispute resolution.

Procurement law support for bidders and contracting authorities
Legal project management for the entire project
Planning and permitting law (e.g. Federal Emission Control Act (BImSchG), Offshore Wind Energy Act (WindSeeG) )
Energy law (Energy Industry Act (EnWG) including questions of gas and electricity grid connection, taking into account the Power Plant Grid Connection Ordinance, Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), Power Plant Safety Act (KWSG), Carbon Dioxide Storage Act (KSpG))
Securing land
Drafting and negotiation of all relevant project contracts (e.g. feasibility studies, FEED, EPC, EPCI, O&M contracts) including international standard contracts (e.g. FIDIC, NEC, LOGIC) and supplier contracts
Utilisation and infrastructure contracts (e.g. transport and storage)
Drafting and negotiation of power supply contracts/offtake agreements (PPAs)
Mergers & acquisitions (M&A), strategic investments
Financing
Joint ventures, co-operations, consortia and project companies
Antitrust and merger control and investment review proceedings
State aid and subsidy law
Occupational health and safety/HSE
Claims and contract management
Enforcement and defence of claims before ordinary courts and in arbitration proceedings

经验

International manufacturer of gas turbines and drive systems on supply contracts

Advice on supply contracts for gas turbine-generator unitsused in combined heat and power plants

Dr. Janina Pochhammer

Pharmaceutical company

Advice on the planning and implementation of a biomass heat and power plant, including feasibility study, EPC contract drafting, claims management and support in realising collateral and renegotiating contracts following the insolvency of the main contractor.

Mineral oil company

Advice in connection with the planned sale of shares in a German refinery to a foreign energy company. Comprehensive legal support in the areas of corporate/M&A, energy law, antitrust and merger control as well as investment control law.

Renewable energy project developer

Advice on a large-scale power-to-X project (including solar, wind, electrolysis, desalination) in South Africa for the production of synthetic fuels based on renewable energies. Advising in particular on the structuring of the purchase agreements for green ammonia and on the cooperation agreement for infrastructure services such as storage, transport and port logistics.

Ship technology group

Advice on a major international project in Africa for the production of green hydrogen, including the contractual structuring and coordination of the main trades. Development of a strategic set-up, preparation of term sheets, drafting of project contracts (including FEED, EPC, EPCM) and legal project management.

East Energy

Advice, in particular on planning law aspects, in relation to the development of an integrated sector coupling project with photovoltaics, wind energy, hydrogen and biomethanol production and battery storage.

Vestas Group

Advice on the drafting and negotiation of project agreements for Germany’s largest offshore wind project (980 MW), Nordlicht 1, developed by Vattenfall. The contracts cover the supply and installation of 68 V236-15.0 MW turbines with a rotor diameter of 236 meters, including their maintenance and servicing.

Press release

Vestas Group

Advice on the drafting and negotiation of project agreements with RWE for the offshore wind project Nordseecluster A. The agreements cover the supply, installation, and commissioning of 44 V236-15.0 MW turbines with a rotor diameter of 236 meters, including a five-year maintenance period and subsequent operational support.

Press release

Vattenfall

Advice to Vattenfall in connection with the sale of its lignite operations to EPH and PPF Investments, particularly regarding energy law issues, grid connection matters, and unbundling. Expertise gained from previous professional experience.

RheinEnergie

Advice on the acquisition of a 49.62% stake in the Rostock power plant from Vattenfall and RWE, particularly on energy law matters such as grid connection, electricity marketing, fuel supply, and joint plant operation. Expertise gained from previous professional experience.

E.ON

Advice to E.ON during the sale process of the Helmstedt power plant to Mitteldeutsche Braunkohlengesellschaft mbH. Expertise gained from previous in-house secondment experience.

Leading European energy company

Advice to an energy company on a gas turbine supply agreement, a balance-of-plant EPC contract, and a long-term maintenance agreement in connection with a 780 MW combined-cycle gas turbine power plant in Brazil.