Energy - Renewables & Climate

Recent Articles

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  26/04/2024

  United Kingdom

  World IP Day: Could IP help fuel the renewable energy transition in Scotland and beyond?

  The need to facilitate the transition to renewable energy and pressure to meet sustainable development goals continues to grow. As such, World IP Day seems an apt time to consider the vital role IP is playing in harnessing Scotland’s wealth of natural energy resources, by encouraging and protecting innovation.IntroductionIt is clear that the transition to renewable energy will rely heavily on new technology and innovation. This can be protected by a mixture of registered and unregistered IP such as patents, trade secrets, confidential information and copyright. Ensuring relevant IP protection...

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  26/04/2024

  Turkiye

  European Court of Human Rights Issues Landmark Climate Ruling with Implications for Türkiye and Beyond

  In a landmark judgment, the European Court of Human Rights (“ECtHR”) recently handed down a judgement on climate-related legal disputes, setting a precedent that has attracted attention beyond the country's borders, including in Türkiye. The case, Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland (Complaint no. 53600/20), underlines the increasing recognition of climate change as a human rights issue and the legal obligations of states to address it.The judgement of the ECtHR is based on a complaint by the association KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and others against Switzerland....

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  24/04/2024

  Bulgaria

  Bulgaria considers introducing Contracts for Difference

  Currently, Bulgaria is among a small number of EU member states that lacks the concept of contracts for difference (CfD). So far, the country had a feed in tariff as a mechanism to subsidise renewable energy producers who meet legislative requirements. Given that feed in tariffs are an outdated tool, contracts for guarantees were introduced.  Having in mind, the current realities of the renewable energy market, including anticipated offshore renewable energy projects, Bulgarian lawmakers came to the conclusion that the country needs CfDs to:Secure the viability of a project;Monitor the...

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  23/04/2024

  Bulgaria

  Bulgaria passes Ordinance offering international trade with guarantees of origin

  Following the development of the EU legislation and reflecting market needs and increasing interest in trading with guarantees of origin, the Bulgaria’s Ministry of Energy adopted new Ordinance No. Е-РД-04-2 of 2 April 2024 on guarantees of origin of energy from renewable sources. The new Ordinance was promulgated in State Gazette No. 32 on 9 April 2024.This new Ordinance repeals Ordinance No. РД-16-1117 of 14.10.2011, which until now regulated the conditions and procedure for creating, maintaining, and using a system for issuing guarantees of origin.By definition,...

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  17/04/2024

  Scotland

  Bioenergy in Scotland – Scottish Government’s Draft Policy Statement focusses on sustainability and resilience

  IntroductionThe Scottish Government (“SG”) has launched a consultation on its draft Bioenergy Policy (the “SG Bioenergy Policy”), with responses to be submitted by 12th June 2024. This article provides a brief overview of the SG Bioenergy Policy’s main features and how it compares with its counterpart, the “Biomass Policy Statement” which was published by the UK Government in November 2021, subsequently laying the foundation for the Biomass Strategy released in 2023.BackgroundThe draft SG Bioenergy Policy sets out the role SG envisages bioenergy playing...

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  09/04/2024

  England and Wales

  Temporary ban on Environmental Permits for New Energy from Waste Plants in England

  On 4th April 2024 Defra issued a direction to the Environment Agency placing a temporary ban on the issue of any new Environmental Permits for Energy from Waste Facilities (EfW) in England.The direction issued under regulation 62 of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, temporarily pauses the determination of environmental permits for new waste incineration facilities, including Energy from Waste and Advanced Thermal Treatment. The direction applies to proposed developments that do not yet hold an environmental permit for waste incineration, regardless of whether they...

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