Power + Renewables

Gilbert + Tobin's market-leading power, renewables and energy specialists work on projects, transactions, investments, project financings and policy contributions that shape the Australian energy sector.

We understand the challenges energy sector players face in this rapidly changing market, subject to increasing regulatory scrutiny. Our energy clients trust us to apply our expertise and work with them in navigating these challenges.

Our Approach

Our multi-disciplinary team includes project, project finance, regulatory, infrastructure, construction, operational and corporate specialists who all have deep experience advising on Australia’s most complex energy market transactions and projects. Our partners and lawyers are deeply connected in the energy industry, government and the business community in Australia.

We have worked on many renewable projects around the country. We have also worked on projects involving some of the more recent developments in the energy space, including battery storage, waste to energy and behind-the-meter projects.

Our team’s mix of project development, financing, corporate and regulatory experience enables us to advise on the entire lifecycle of energy projects including:

Early stage considerations such as business and joint venture structuring.
Planning, environmental and regulatory approvals and land tenure arrangements (including native title issues).
Project financing.
Construction, procurement, operations, power purchase and other commercial contracts.
The acquisition or disposal of development or completed projects.
Structuring investments in renewable energy related funds.

Our Experience

Our experience includes advising:

Powering Australia Renewables Fund (PARF) on its successful $NZ2.96 billion acquisition of the Tilt Renewables portfolio of wind, solar and battery operating and development projects, one of the largest acquisitions of its type in Australia.
GE Renewables on various EPC and O&M contracting tasks.
Cubico on its investment into the Delburn Wind Farm.
Infigen Energy (Australia’s largest listed renewable energy generator) on its competing takeover bids from Iberdrola and UAC.
Tilt Renewables on the $1.073 billion sale of the Snowtown 2 Wind Farm, the second-largest wind farm in Australia and the biggest transaction of its type in Australia.
Veolia on its ground-breaking project for a new $450 million waste-to-energy facility in WA – the first of its kind in Australia.
A syndicate of lenders in connection with the A$3.5 billion debt facilities to fund the Snowy 2.0 pumped-hydro power station project.
Tilt Renewables on the project financing of the 130MW Waipipi Wind Farm in South Taranaki, New Zealand, the first project financed wind farm in New Zealand.
ANZ Bank as senior lender on its A$90 million acquisition and portfolio financing facility made available to commercial rooftop solar provider, CPE Renewable Investment Unit Trust (CPERI), a funding vehicle joint venture between First Sentier Investors and CleanPeak Energy.
National Australia Bank Limited and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as financiers to Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, funding the multimillion-dollar construction of the Clare Solar Farm project.
RATCH on all aspects of the development of the 180 MW Collector wind farm in New South Wales and the 200 MW Mt Emerald Wind Farm.
NSW Treasury on the Network Electricity Reform Program involving the integration of the three NSW electricity distributors, Essential Energy, Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid.
GDF Suez on its proposed acquisition of an international portfolio of renewable and non-renewable independent power projects in Asia and Africa.
Ausnet on the development, structuring and operation of a ‘behind-the-meter’ commercial and industrial roof-top solar PPA business in Australia.
Jemena on the development, structuring and operation of a ‘behind-the-meter’ commercial and industrial roof-top solar PPA business in Australia.
UBS Infrastructure Fund and REST Super TRUST Acting on the acquisition and project financing of the 206 MW, $740 million Collgar Wind Farm; at the time Western Australia’s largest renewable energy project.
Tilt Renewables on the financing of the Salt Creek wind farm, a 55MW project in south west Victoria.
Alinta Energy in relation to tenure, land access and approval matters generally, and in respect of their power transmission infrastructure in the Pilbara, Western Australia, including for the Roy Hill Project.
Engie on swap arrangements with Origin Energy relating to the Pelican Point power station in South Australia, under which Origin supplies gas to Pelican Point and ENGIE provides power to Origin (to supply South Australian customers).
The financiers to the Synergy Renewable Fund in relation to the financing of various solar and wind development projects.