ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE

Think ahead. Change. Improve.

If we don’t move with the times, the times will leave us behind. Currently, one of the most important areas to focus on is the area of energy. We are convinced that those who choose responsible production, procurement and supply of energy are laying the foundations for a successful future. rk partners will be your ideal partner in all matters involving energy law and will accompany you on your path to our shared energy future.

ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE

Think ahead. Change. Improve.

If we don’t move with the times, the times will leave us behind. Currently, one of the most important areas to focus on is the area of energy. We are convinced that those who choose responsible production, procurement and supply of energy are laying the foundations for a successful future. rk partners will be your ideal partner in all matters involving energy law and will accompany you on your path to our shared energy future.

One-Stop Shop

We can help you deal with the legal framework related to the field of energy. Our experts will support you with project planning, with various aspects of financing and with the issues that can arise in connection with the interfaces between energy generation, energy procurement and energy supply. Unlike other commercial law firms, we offer our clients a holistic and comprehensive solution. This is made possible by our team, which brings together experienced lawyers and industry experts.

Our expertise in energy law

Are you looking for legal advice on the implementation of energy projects? A legal advisor who thinks outside the box? A way to set future trends with alternative energy sources such as water, PV or wind? A top law firm as a partner for questions relating to energy and emissions trading? If so, you have come to the right address. Numerous national and international energy companies, energy suppliers, energy traders, network operators, municipalities and banks already rely on rk partners, and we look forward to working with you on your own energy-related projects!

OUR AREAS OF COMPETENCE AT A GLANCE

As a one-stop shop in energy law, we will be happy to advise and support you in all areas of energy law, including, but not limited to, the following:

POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS

A future-proof model.

Europe's electricity market faces significant challenges: the expansion of renewable energy and the strategic phase-out of natural gas as part of the Green Deal are key objectives. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are proving to be an innovative solution to support this transformation. Structuring PPAs requires careful consideration of factors such as contract duration, pricing mechanisms, and electricity delivery. Contract templates like the EFET framework agreements provide valuable guidance. However, companies must also navigate regulatory requirements such as REMIT, EMIR, and MiFID II, which were originally developed for the financial sector.

Despite these hurdles, PPAs offer numerous advantages: they ensure long-term price stability, minimize trading risks, and enable the verifiable procurement of regional and green electricity. Especially in project financing by banks, the careful structuring of a PPA is crucial. As experts in energy law and PPA design, we are here to assist you. Together with our experienced Of Counsels, who possess in-depth knowledge of the economic and technical implementation of such projects, we ensure the successful realization of your initiative.

PURCHASE AND SALE OF ENERGY PROJECTS

To create the best conditions for the success of your energy project, we will accompany and advise you not only during the first steps, but throughout every subsequent stage of your energy project. If you are planning the purchase or sale of an energy project, we will help to bring buyers and sellers together. We know the market and have a large network.

Market entry in Austria

With our many years of experience in energy law, comprehensive industry knowledge and economic understanding, we accompany you from the initial market analysis to the successful implementation of your projects. As a one-stop shop, rk partners offers you holistic support that combines legal know-how with strategic and economic expertise. With a team of experienced lawyers combined with experts from business and technology, we accompany you on your market entry in Austria and offer comprehensive support in the planning, legal implementation and economic optimisation of your projects - from concept development to successful realisation.

Our integrated approach ensures a smooth and successful market entry in Austria. You can rely on us to optimise your projects both economically and legally.

ENERGY COMMUNITIES

A future-proof model.

Climate change, scarcity of resources, unequal distribution – all of these are important social and economic challenges that require the development and setting-up of sustainable energy models. Energy must be generated, used and distributed more efficiently. Energy communities make it possible.

The underlying objective is to generate energy together and use it together at reduced rates.

Imagine being part of such an energy community. Solar energy is generated on the roof of your company building, your partners generate energy from water and wind power. In this way, any weather situation can be used for energy production and all members of the community can be constantly supplied. This is how regional energy communities – and even communities across several regions – can meet demand.

The advantages are obvious: your energy supply will not only become more sustainable, it will also be more efficient, autonomous and regional. In the future, the production and sale of electricity will no longer be the prerogative of energy supply companies. Energy communities represent an attractive, albeit still rather new energy model, the planning, implementation and government funding of which raises numerous questions.

As experts in energy law and energy communities, we are here to help.

Renewable Energy Communities
(REC)

RECs are regional energy communities that only use renewable energy sources. We will work with you to analyse the situation and requirements, identify the possibilities of funding, determine the type of company that will best suit your purpose and establish an optimal, holistic model for your project.

Citizen Energy Communities
(CEC)

CECs are regional and/or national energy communities that permit a combination of conventional and alternative energy generation. We will advise and support you as you plan and implement your project, from the initial analysis of the requirements and funding options to the choice of a legal form for the company and questions of tax law.

Energy communities in the property sector

rk partners accompanies you on the way to a "green property".

The energy transition brings new opportunities for sustainable living concepts. Despite the challenges, the integration of photovoltaics and energy communities in the form of communal generation plants (GEA), renewable energy communities (EEG) and citizen energy communities (BEG) offers great potential to combine ecological responsibility with long-term benefits for residents and the environment - supported by attractive subsidy models.
Energy communities promote sustainable energy utilisation, increase the attractiveness of residential offers and reduce electricity costs in the long term.

CONTACT

Our experts and their energy solutions.

Dominik Kurzmann
Head of Energy

Dominik Kurzmann is a partner at rk partners, heads the Energy Desk, and is one of Austria’s leading energy law experts. With more than fifteen years of professional experience, he provides comprehensive advice to national and international clients in the energy and financial services sectors. His areas of specialization include the development, implementation, financing, as well as the purchase and sale of energy projects and companies, including the structuring of capital market products in the field of renewable and conventional energy. He supports clients entering new markets, assists with complex cross-border transactions, and designs power procurement strategies, for example, through power purchase agreements or energy communities. Dominik is the author of numerous specialist books and publications and teaches as a university lecturer at the University of Vienna on energy and banking-related legal topics. He and his team have gained recognition in international rankings such as JUVE, Chambers, IFLR 1000, and Legal500.

Teammitglieder

News

Rankings

INFOS

Sustainability at a glance

In a recently published brochure, Volksbanken and the ÖGV provide information about all aspects of sustainable management. This information is addressed to SMEs and cooperatives, among others, to teach them how they, too, can focus on sustainability and what their main considerations should be. There is also comprehensive advice on subsidies and tax relief.

The Funding and Tax Guidebook

Information on the most important subsidies and tax relief measures related to the subject of sustainability. In a recently published brochure, Volksbanken and the ÖGV provide information about all aspects of sustainable management. This information is addressed to SMEs and cooperatives, among others, to teach them how they, too, can focus on sustainability and what their main considerations should be. There is also comprehensive advice on subsidies and tax relief.

Company Websites

ENERGY LAW

Energy law for energy communities

Since 2021, the production and sale of energy is no longer an exclusive prerogative of classic energy supply companies. Ordinary citizens are now permitted to form so-called energy communities that allow them to produce, store, sell and consume energy in a flexible manner. As experts in energy law in Vienna and throughout Austria, we provide you with comprehensive support throughout the implementation of your project. We represent national and international market participants, including energy companies, energy suppliers, energy traders, network operators, municipalities and banks. 

Renewable Energy Communities

In Mehrparteienhäusern sind Energiegemeinschaften in Österreich als gemeinschaftliche Erzeugungsanlagen bereits verbreitet. Ein gängiges Beispiel ist z.B. eine Solaranlage am Dach eines Mehrparteienhauses. Die Solaranlage erzeugt Strom der anschließend an alle Teilnehmer verteilt wird. Als Energiegemeinschaft gibt man dem Netzbetreiber bekannt nach welchem Verteilungsmodell die Erzeugungsanteile auf die einzelnen Teilnehmer aufgeteilt werden. Der gemessene Verbrauch wird vom Netzbetreiber anschließend aufgeteilt. Genutzte Energie, die über die Produktion hinausgeht, wird vom frei gewählten Lieferanten des einzelnen Teilnehmers geliefert. Als Fachanwälte für Energiegemeinschaften bzw. Energierecht unterstützen wir Sie von Anfang an bei der Planung, Gründung Strukturierung sowie der Einhaltung rechtlicher Anforderungen. Weiteres beraten wir Sie auch gerne im Hinblick auf mögliche Förderungen bzw. Finanzierungen für Ihr Energiegemeinschaftsprojekt.

Types of energy communities

Renewable Energy Community

Bei dieser Form einer Energiegemeinschaft erfolgt die Energieerzeugung mittels erneuerbarer Energien. Besonders ist zusätzlich die geografische Nähe jedes Teilnehmers. Alle Teilnehmer müssen sich im selben Netzgebiet befinden und schließen jeweils eigene Netznutzungsverträge mit dem gleichen Netzbetreiber. Ein Vorteil ist, dass günstigerer Netztarife angewendet werden. Vorteilhaft für alle Teilnehmer ist weiters der Wegfall des Erneuerbaren-Förderbeitrags. An einer Erneuerbaren-Energie-Gemeinschaft dürfen natürliche Personen, Gemeinden, Rechtsträger von Behörden in Bezug auf lokale Dienststellen (z.B. die Republik Österreich für die Polizeidienststelle im Ort) und sonstige juristische Personen des öffentlichen Rechts teilnehmen. Klein- und Mittelbetriebe dürfen auch teilnehmen, sofern dies nicht der gewerblichen und beruflichen Haupttätigkeit des Privatunternehmens entspricht. Jede Art der Energiegemeinschaft besteht aus mindestens zwei Teilnehmern, somit sind auch kleinere Konstellationen möglich. Als Anwälte für Energierecht und Energiegemeinschaften unterstützen wir Sie ganzheitlich bei der Umsetzung Ihres Projekts.

Citizen Energy Communities

Haben die Teilnehmer einer Energiegemeinschaft keine geografische Nähe zueinander bietet sich die Bürgerenergiegemeinschaft an. Bei dieser Lösung können die jeweiligen Teilnehmer auch mit unterschiedlichen Netzbetreibern Verträge geschlossen haben, zudem muss die erzeugte elektrische Energie auch nicht ausschließlich aus erneuerbaren Quellen stammen. Als Bürgerenergiegemeinschaft darf man elektrische Energie erzeugen, teilen, speichern, verbrauchen oder verkaufen. Da der erzeugte Strom aufgrund der fehlenden geografischen Nähe der jeweiligen Teilnehmer teils weite Strecken im Stromnetz zurücklegen muss, sind die finanziellen Anreize geringer als bei Erneuerbaren-Energie-Gemeinschaften. Die Teilnahme an einer Bürgerenergiegemeinschaft ist juristischen sowie natürlichen Personen und Gebietskörperschaften erlaubt. Wir unterstützen Sie umfassend bei der Gründung Ihrer Bürgerenergiegemeinschaft, der Suche nach einer passenden Unternehmensform und hinsichtlich Förderungen. Auch bei steuerlichen Fragen stehen wir Ihnen gerne beratend zur Seite.

Energy law specialists

As specialists in the field of energy law and energy communities, we are able to provide you with comprehensive support on topics such as choosing the right legal form, obtaining possible subsidies or planning and implementing a solution tailored to your needs.