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. PHH Rechtsanwälte 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. PHH Rechtsanwälte 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 PHH Rechtsanwälte, 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:
- Structuring and setting up of energy communities
- Renewable energies (hydropower, photovoltaic, wind power, biomass, biogas, etc.)
- Energy-related contract law
- Energy and emissions trading
- Energy regulation
- Corporate law and M&A
- Financing
- Funding Models
- Infrastructure projects
- Public law
- Real estate law
- Environmental law
For us, consulting services in the energy sector encompass not only individual aspects of energy law, but also the development of comprehensive solutions for the detailed, multi-layered and often complex legal framework of the projects and activities in this sector. One area that is becoming increasingly important is the interface between energy production, energy procurement and energy supply on the one hand and energy trading on the other. Market participants in the energy sector must also focus increasingly on financing and credit risk aspects.
Our team is led by lawyers with experience in the field and in-depth industry knowledge. Our consulting services range from regulatory advice to finding solutions for project implementation in the context of both alternative energy projects (hydroelectric power projects, PV projects, wind farm projects, etc.) and conventional energy projects. We represent national and international market participants, including energy companies, energy suppliers, energy traders, network operators, municipalities, banks and bank customers from this sector.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF ENERGY PROJECTS
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.
(REC)
(CEC)
News
INFOS
CONTACT
Click here to find out more about our experts and their energy solutions.
Dominik Kurzmann
Head of Energy
Dominik is a partner at PHH Rechtsanwälte and head of the energy law team. He has more than a decade of professional experience in the energy, financial services and financial consultancy sectors. He also lectures at the University of Vienna on energy law and banking-specific topics.
Other team members
Victoria Fischl
Energy law expert
Theresa is a trainee lawyer with PHH Rechtsanwälte. She advises national and international clients on banking and finance and on energy law.
Evgeny Rodionov
Expert on energy law
Evgeny works with PHH Rechtsanwälte as Of counsel. He specialises in complex cross-border financing and in advising family offices and private individuals.
Stefanie Werinos
Public law
Stefanie is a partner at PHH Rechtsanwälte. She is an expert in the field of public commercial law, with special focus on public procurement, environmental and planning law, and on mobility law, public life science and health care.
Sandra Kasper
Public law
Sandra is an attorney with PHH Rechtsanwälte. She focuses on public commercial law, particularly industrial plant, environmental and energy law.
Theresa Karall
Public law
Theresa is an attorney with PHH Rechtsanwälte. Her focus is on public commercial law, with special emphasis on public procurement and planning law and on the public life science and health care sector.
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
Energy communities as communal generation systems can be found in many multi-party buildings all over Austria. A common example is solar systems on the roof of apartment buildings. The solar system generates electricity which is then distributed to all participants. The energy community informs the network operator of the distribution model according to which the production quotas are attributed to the individual participants. The metered consumption is then divided by the network operator. Any energy used in excess of production is supplied by the individual participant's freely chosen supplier.
As specialist lawyers for energy communities and energy law, we will advise and support you in planning, founding and structuring your energy community and help you to comply with legal requirements. We will also advise you on how to obtain subsidies or financing for your energy community project.
Types of energy communities
Renewable Energy Community
This type of energy community generates energy using renewable energies. Another feature is the geographic proximity between participants - all participants must be located within the same network area and sign individual network usage contracts with the same network operator. One advantage of this model lies in the application of cheaper network tariffs. Another advantage for all participants is the elimination of the renewable energy subsidy.
Members of renewable energy communities may be individuals, municipalities, governmental entities on behalf of their subordinate local authorities (e.g. the Republic of Austria on behalf of the local police station) and other legal entities under public law. Small and medium-sized companies may participate as long as the production of energy is not the main commercial object of the company. Each type of energy community must have at least two participants, which means that smaller constellations are also possible.
As lawyers for energy law and energy communities, we will provide comprehensive support throughout the implementation of your project.
Citizen Energy Communities
In cases where the participants in an energy community are not geographically close to each other, there is the option of setting up a citizens' energy community. Under this model, the respective participants may enter into contracts with different network operators and the electrical energy generated may be obtained from other than renewable sources. Citizen energy communities may generate, share, store, consume or sell electrical energy. Since the electricity generated may have to travel long distances in the power grid due to the lack of geographical proximity of the respective participants, there are fewer financial incentives than there are with renewable energy communities. Participants in a citizen energy community may be legal entities, individuals or local authorities.
We will provide you with comprehensive support in setting up your citizen energy community, choosing a suitable form of company and obtaining subsidies. We will also advise you on tax issues.
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.
