Renewable & Sustainable Energy: Sector Experience
We have advised, and are currently engaged with a broad range of environmentally focused businesses. These include on-shore wind power generation companies, solar PV installers, biomass producers, waste to energy plants, electrical waste recyclers, landfill sites and environmental charities. Examples of recent work we have undertaken within the environmental and renewables sector include the following:
Wave Hub
The UK has some of the largest wave and tidal energy resources in Europe. The Wave Hub is a groundbreaking renewable energy project backed by the South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) to create the UK’s first offshore facility to demonstrate the operation of arrays of wave energy generation devices. It consists of an electrical grid connection point situated approximately 16 km off the North coast of Cornwall into which wave energy devices will be connected.
We advised SWRDA on the proposed £42m Wave Hub project, working as part of the project team developing business plans and financial models in support of the initial application for Government funding.
Devon Wind Power
Devon Wind Power Ltd owns the Fullabrook Wind Farm situated between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. It consists of 22 turbines of up to 3 megawatts capacity each, generating sufficient electricity to supply nearly 30,000 domestic homes.
We acted as tax advisers to Baker Group on the disposal of its wind farm operations to ESB Wind Developments UK. Its parent company is the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), Ireland’s state-owned electricity utility, which has a corporate strategy to halve its current carbon emissions within 12 years and achieve carbon net-zero emissions by 2035.
Crumb Rubber
Crumb Rubber has developed a process to recycle old tyres into crumb rubber of various grades and is developing new markets for its finer grade crumb.
We advised Crumb Rubber Limited in Plymouth on a £4m investment package by London-based private equity investor, Foresight Ventures, through a mixture of equity, mezzanine finance and debt. The environmental nature of the investment fitted perfectly into Foresight’s Clean-tech investment portfolio.
Good Energy plc
We listed Good Energy onto PLUS markets in 2004 and have acted as Corporate Adviser to the company since then. Good Energy supplies electricity generated from renewable sources to over 26,000 customers nationwide, and is the UK’s only dedicated 100% renewable electricity supplier.
O-Gen Plymtrek
We provided grant advice to O-Gen Plymtrek resulting in a substantial investment under the Grant for Business Investment (GBI) scheme. The new company is focused on the development of one of the UK’s first waste wood combined heat and power (CHP) stations with capacity to supply 9,000 carbon-neutral homes and displace 150,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum.
Plasloc
Plasloc has developed a hoarding system made from recycled plastic for use in the construction industry, with a particular focus on supermarket refits.
We advised the company on becoming ‘investor ready’, which included development of its business plan for presentation to potential investors, financial forecasts and rehearsing presentations to investors. We guided Plasloc through the process to successfully secure a first round equity investment.