Exploring the rise of renewable energy opportunities
29th July 2024
A recent landmark conference saw industry experts give farmers advice on the routes into energy generation, storage, and transmission.
The Renewables Conference, was hosted by Midlands and South West law firm Lodders, at Merevale Hall, Atherstone on 16th May 2024. It attracted more than 100 delegates and provided insights into how renewable energy projects are steered from the drawing board stage right through to build.
Alastair Frew, partner and head of the renewables team at Lodders says: “There is growing interest in renewables within the landowner community, and we are supporting more individuals than ever through the complex documentation required to create renewables schemes on their land. These can range from solar PV developments, battery storage schemes, and wind farms, to installing gas generators or anaerobic digestion equipment.”
Providing practical guidance on renewables opportunities were a range of speakers including Simon Murrells of Innova Renewables, Nick Green of Savills, Hugh Taylor of Roadnight Taylor, Peter White of Gopsall Accountants, and James Collier of Howkins & Harrison.
Achieving net zero
“There were clear themes running through the talks on the day,” Alastair explains, “including the National Grid Electricity System Operator’s (NGESCO) connections reform coming into force in January 2025, the continuing demand for solar PV, and the need for battery storage in certain locations, to feed the nation’s seemingly limitless demand for electricity which is in turn driven by internet cloud storage and data centres. We also tackled the thorny question of hydrogen and when the technology will come of age.”
With the UK aiming to reach net zero by 2050, and achieve decarbonisation of the electricity grid by 2035, Alastair emphasises the importance of landowners seeking specialist advice with regards to renewables, particularly if approached by an operator or developer looking to install a scheme on their property.
He says: “If you pool the right expertise to support your renewables project, whether this be specialist accountants and lawyers or the engineers, you have a much better chance of making your scheme a reality.
“Lodders’ team of renewable energy experts can help ensure landowners get the deal, whether they are developing land to produce solar energy for a whole new settlement, erecting a single wind turbine, putting in an energy from waste plant or gas reserve power station, or even installing a row of public car-charging points.”
Lodders is a premier law firm in Stratford upon Avon, Birmingham, Cheltenham, and Henley in Arden. Founded more 240 years ago, the firm offers expert legal advice across a range of legal services including private client, commercial law, real estate, and family law.
For more information, visit: www.lodders.co.uk
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