47345784358

Griffin O'Rourke

Senior Associate
About
Griffin advises on the development, corporate venturing, route-to-market and regulatory arrangements for energy and infrastructure projects.

His clients include developers, funders, investors and offtakers in the power, gas, hydrogen, energy storage and e-fuels sectors, including regulated utilities. Griffin also advises the UK Government and Ofgem (the energy regulator for Great Britain) on implementation of their energy policy objectives.
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
Education
  • University of Warwick, History with Italian (BA Hons)
  • BPP University, GDL and LPC

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising Kommunalkredit Austria on grid and regulatory issues in relation to its agreement with developer NatPower for the financing of 10 new-build long duration energy storage (LDES) projects across Great Britain, with total proposed installed capacity of approximately 10.7 GW.
  • Advising Uniper on the establishment of a landmark route to market framework with Octopus Energy in respect of gas, power and derivative products in the Italian, German and Spanish markets, including negotiation of the framework trading protocol, EFET and ISDA trading documentation and security package, and regulatory issues concerning the proposed structure.
  • Advising the GB energy regulator, the Office for Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem), on regulatory considerations and contractual arrangements concerning the handover of the licensed GB Smart Meter Communications business.
  • Advising Arcadia eFuels Vordingborg on regulatory compliance and offtake arrangements in relation to its EUR 2 billion eSAF project in Denmark.
  • Advising La Caisse and Amber Infrastructure on energy regulatory and grid connection issues (including aspects related to TM04+ grid reform) related to their respective equity investments in the Sizewell C nuclear project.
  • Advising Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners on gas connection, supply, regulatory and emissions trading issues regarding the sale of their UK gas peaking, landfill gas and coal mine methane asset portfolios and Flexitricity optimisation business.
  • Advising SNRG in relation to its partnership with Harwell Science and Innovation Campus for the delivery of a multi-phase private wire network incorporating "SmartGrid" load management technology, on-site solar PV generation and battery storage at its site in Oxfordshire, UK. Advice included project structuring and regulatory issues, and negotiation of the contracts suite for the funding, design, build, operation and maintenance of the SmartGrid Scheme (including customer supply contracts and network terms of use).
  • Advising E.ON on project structuring and regulatory compliance issues concerning its partnership with Peel Ports for the delivery of  the UK's largest rooftop solar PV retrofit project at the Port of Liverpool, delivering a total of approximately 36 MW of 100% renewable onsite generation.
  • Advising the UK Government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on a comprehensive legislative / regulatory review of the UKCS offshore hydrogen production regime and associated consultation, including a comparative review of legal regimes in selected countries.
  • Advising E.ON on regulatory considerations and development of the contractual documentation suite in relation to the establishment of its new UK licensed IDNO business, E.ON UK Network Assets Limited.
  • Advising Foresight Group on the gas, grid and Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) subsidy arrangements regarding its joint venture with CNG Fuels – CNG Foresight – and its GPB 80m investment funding the roll-out of 25 biomethane HGV refuelling stations across the UK.*
  • Advising Octopus Renewables on various regulatory and grid connection issues in relation to its UK renewables project portfolio. This included advising on grid agreements and unbundling requirements in connection with its equity investment into the Be.EV UK electric vehicle charging infrastructure business.*
  • Advising net zero investment firm Hycap Group on gas, grid, route to market, energy regulatory and grant funding arrangements in connection with its acquisition of Motive Fuels Limited, the UK’s largest hydrogen refuelling operator.*
  • Advising CloudHQ on transmission network connection and power procurement arrangements for its UK data centre projects in Didcot and Elstree. This included review and negotiation of grid connection, construction and interface arrangements with National Grid ESO and NGET.*
  • Advising student accommodation provider Fusion Group as the first third party plot developer connecting into the Brent Cross Town heat network, the UK’s largest ASHP-powered low-carbon heat network, serving 6,700 homes and 50 commercial units.*
Languages
  • English