The secrets of growing old gracefully courtesy of Shepherd and Wedderburn at All-Energy

For the second year running, leading UK law firm, Shepherd and Wedderburn is the headline sponsor of All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable energy event, which returns to Glasgow’s Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre on 4-5 May.

With extensive experience advising key industry players across the spectrum of renewable energy projects, members of Shepherd and Wedderburn’s 90-strong Energy and Natural Resources team will be present at the event and will feature strongly in this year’s seminar and conference programme.

Shepherd and Wedderburn partner and Head of Planning, Colin Innes, together with Colin Robertson, a partner in the firm’s top-ranked real estate team will be speakers in the Onshore wind 2: Growing old gracefully session, which focuses on life extension, repowering and decommissioning of UK onshore wind assets. 

In a series of presentations, speakers will explore the various opportunities that are available to owners of ageing onshore wind sites for improving their return on investment: either by changing the plant or the way in which it is operated. Emerging threats to the commercial viability of late life operation of wind sites will also be explored.

Innes is an accredited planning specialist who has worked with many of Shepherd and Wedderburn’s onshore wind clients. He has extensive experience in advising on planning applications in respect of wind farm developments. Robertson, advises on all aspects of commercial property work and has particular expertise in acting for both developers and funders of renewable energy projects, including onshore and offshore windfarms. Together, they are well placed to provide All-Energy’s participants with insight into the technical and legal issues faced by onshore wind asset owners planning to repower or extend the life of their sites.

Innes commented: “Many of the country’s current onshore wind assets will be more than 15 years old by 2020 so it makes sense to look ahead at possible strategies which owners can adopt to preserve and extend value in their ageing assets. The speakers at the session are experts in their field and will provide delegates with a truly comprehensive picture of the ways in which owners can do this. Colin Robertson and I are looking forward to joining the debate.”

Innes and Robertson will be joined by a variety of speakers, including Mary Fisher from LDA Design and Colin Morgan from Everoze Partners who will address the design and environmental impact, as well as the technical and commercial side of extending the life for onshore wind projects. Andrea Riccardi from Gamesa will share valuable insight from the perspective of a wind turbine generator manufacturer.

Concluded by a Q&A and discussion, the Onshore wind 2: Growing old gracefully session takes place on 4 May at 2pm in the Dochart room.