CMS advises on building of one of world’s largest offshore wind farms

Date: 08/06/2010

Charles Currier

CMS Cameron McKenna LLP has advised RWE Innogy on its joint venture to build one of the world’s largest offshore wind farms, Gwynt y Môr. The project, to be built off the North Wales coast, represents an investment of over €2billion into the European offshore wind industry.

The project is to be developed by RWE Innogy´s UK-subsidiary RWE npower renewables and will be the company's third major offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay, the two existing wind farms being the 60MW North Hoyle and 90MW Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farms. Investing alongside RWE in this unincorporated joint venture are Stadtwerke München (SWM - Munich Municipal Utility) who will hold a 30% stake and Siemens who will hold a 10% stake, with RWE retaining a 60% stake. Work will start towards the end of 2011 to erect the first foundations for a total of 160 wind turbines. The project is expected to be complete in 2014.

The team from CMS was led by Corporate partner, Charles Currier, and supported by Corporate associates Nicky Hyland, Glyn Richards, Tim Wass and trainee Dhruv Chattralia. The team also included partner Munir Hassan and associate Juliet Stradling (Energy), partner Martin Pennell and associate Liz Kelly (Property) and partner Keith Gregory and associate Harpreet Bhatti (Tax).

Charles Currier commented, “This will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in construction in the world and we were extremely happy to be able to support RWE to complete the joint venture. This complex deal further strengthens our excellent relationship with RWE and highlights the firm’s recognised expertise in the field of renewable energy.”

In January 2009, the firm advised RWE on its UK new nuclear joint venture with E.ON AG. In April 2009, the firm supported RWE on its successful bids for land at Wylfa, Anglesey, and Oldbury, South Gloucestershire, in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s (NDA) site auction. In July 2009, the Energy team advised RWE Dea on the purchase of a 70% stake in the Breagh gas field, a major Southern North Sea gas development, from six companies. On completion of the transaction, RWE Dea took over the majority of the Breagh field, the largest gas discovery in the North Sea for 10 years.

For your online legal updates

Eve MacKinnon
+44 (0)207 367 3621
eve.mackinnon@cms-cmck.com

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