Nuclear Law Insights & Articles

Is insurance an effective risk management tool?: Article by Prospect Law Published in Wind Energy Network

We are delighted that this week sees the publication in Wind Energy Network of the second of a series of articles by Prospect Law on managing risk in offshore wind and what is an effective risk management tool. The development of offshore wind forms a major part of the Government’s program to reduce carbon emissions. […]

26/09/2020

The Importance of Supply Chain Regulation for the Offshore Wind Sector

This week sees the publication in Wind Energy Network of the third in a series of articles by Prospect Law. This article, by our Environmental Law specialist William Wilson, highlights the increasing regulatory and legislative attention on the Supply Chain Regulations, environmental and human rights aspects of sourcing metals and minerals to develop offshore wind projects […]

The ‘Eastmed Pipeline’ – Hard Reality or a Pipedream?

The Eastmed Pipeline project has been a subject of much debate and speculation within the energy sector. Intended to transport natural gas from the Eastern Mediterranean region to Europe, this ambitious venture promises to enhance energy security and diversify supply sources. However, the project’s viability is continually questioned due to geopolitical tensions, economic feasibility, and […]

20/09/2020

Prospect Law Nominated as a ‘Firm of the Year’ in the Legal 500 Awards 2020

We are pleased, as an infrastructure and energy specialist firm, to confirm that we have been shortlisted for the Firm of the Year (outside London) award in the Projects, Energy & Natural Resources category of the Legal 500 2020. The Legal 500 is considered the world’s largest legal reference guide, having analysed the capabilities of law firms […]

24/08/2020

Costs to Businesses & Households of New Funding Arrangements at Hinkley Point: Part I

HinkleyPoint C (HPC) is a nuclear power station based on the French EuropeanPressurised Reactor design, code-named the EPR1. The project involves thecommissioning of twin 1,600 MW reactors which will ultimately deliver a final outputof 3,200 MW (3.2 GW). Theplant is being constructed in Somersetby developers, CGN (China General Nuclear Corporation) and EDF. The plant couldmeet […]

09/10/2019

Different Approaches to Corporate Social Responsibility

The philosophy behind western approaches to CSR Western approaches to the formulation of Corporate Social Responsibility strategy are overwhelmingly secular. They tend to flow out of one of a number of paradigms. We can perhaps categorise these paradigms as follows: Classical Social Contract Instrumental Legitimacy Stakeholder 1. The “classical” view is best expressed in terms of the […]

07/10/2019

The Curse of Resources in Action: The Loss of a Social License to Operate

A few years ago I travelled to a remote part of the Balkans to deliver risk management support to a client from the extractive industry. The client’s corporate security officer told me that commercial operations were being hindered by sabotage and theft, reputational attacks in the social media as a consequence of those acts of […]

EU Court Peonicotinoid Pesticides Insecticide Judgments: Significance for UK Agriculture, Chemicals and Environmental Policy, Part I

In the first of this series of articles, we consider three important linked judgements about neonicotinoid pesticides, which damage bees, from the EU General Court, issued on 17 May 2018, which have widespread implications for agriculture, chemicals and environmental policy, especially for the UK, for example in the way the judgement endorses the precautionary principle. […]

Bigger Bills Will Drive Battery Investments Behind the Meter

Rising non-commodity costs and resilience concerns make batteries more attractive for big users. Increased Charges Energy is pure expenditure. There is no investment or “hidden benefit” to be had, and even for companies that can damp down usage, there are bill increases to come. Prometheus Energy, a demand side response and reserve battery provider, reported […]

Risk Management in UK New Nuclear – Expansion or Explosion?

As HMG grapples with challenging decisions on how best to sustain energy security in the UK through potential investment in new nuclear power generation, ultimately it is appropriate risk management approaches that should remain at the heart of such decisions. Mark Vickers, from Prospect’s Project Finance team, sets out an introduction to the issue. Risk Management & […]

A new approach to risk management in nuclear energy

Mark Vickers recently posted an article on risk management for new nuclear in the UK, highlighting the high-risk environment of new nuclear build (and other major infrastructure projects) that characterises these projects as ‘VUCA’ (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous). Whilst recognising that insurance has a role to play in risk management, in this article Mark Tetley calls for […]

Wholesale Energy Prices: March – June 2019

Crude Oil Having eclipsed the $70/bbl mark at one stage, the Brent contract fell back to finish the second quarter 8% down, as fears of an US-Iran war eased for at least for the time being. Nevertheless, the Persian Gulf remains a tinderbox, one which could cause crude oil prices, and petroleum product prices in particular, […]

Brexit and Euratom: Summary as of 1st October

Brexit developments are rapid and subject to significant change at very short notice. This summary reflects the position as we understand it at 1st October 2019. Leaving Euratom: An afterthought to Brexit The debates that led to the referendum decision to exit the European Union scarcely featured the parallel Euratom Treaty. The first news that the […]

The Prerequisites for Nuclear Energy in Australia: An Analysis of the Inquiry So Far

A couple of months ago, we reflected on the announcement that the Australian Parliament was to hold an Inquiry into the prerequisites for nuclear energy in Australia. We are now two months into the four-month inquiry and submissions have now closed, although the hearings continue. We report here on the progress to date. To date, over 250 submissions have […]

Department for International Trade Issues Fresh Information for Exporters Ahead of Brexit

The Department for International Trade has sent through further guidance with a view to getting businesses ready to export post-Brexit. A step-by-step guide has been released with a view to ensuring businesses will continue to be able to send goods from the UK to the EU. A Brexit imports and exports helpline has also been launched, offering advice on: […]

The Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste in England: Recent Developments

There have been two recent changes in the quest to find a permanent site for the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste. Written Ministerial Statement In a written statement to Parliamenton 17 October, the Minister for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, NadhimZahawi, designated the National Policy Statement (NPS) for Geological DisposalInfrastructure, following its laying before parliament […]