Europe: Energy and Natural Resources

Finland's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment is preparing urgent amendments to the Electricity Market Act that would fundamentally reshape how network operators allocate scarce grid capacity. The proposed priority system would rank connection requests into four distinct groups, with electricity storage facilities receiving the lowest priority while small consumption sites and critical infrastructure secure top placement.

The Environment Agency has launched a consultation on significant reforms to its Enforcement and Sanctions Policy, introducing new civil penalty frameworks and automatic financial penalties for water companies under the Water (Special Measures) Act 2025. The proposed changes expand enforcement mechanisms across multiple sectors including waste management, packaging regimes, and mercury controls, while establishing a fundamentally different regulatory approach for water sector operators that allows penalties

Denmark's electricity grid faces a critical connection crisis as insufficient capacity struggles to meet surging demands from batteries, data centers, power-to-X facilities, electric vehicle charging, and industrial electrification. The Danish Parliament is currently addressing this challenge by amending the Electricity Supply Act, moving away from the "first-come-first-served" principle toward a more politically prioritized approach to grid connection requests.

Hidroelektrik santraller (HES), fosil yakıtlara kıyasla işletme maliyetlerinin düşüklüğü, uzun işletme ömürleri, yüksek verimlilik oranları ve atmosferik emisyon üretmeyen temiz yapılarıyla Türkiye'nin yenilenebilir enerji stratejisinde merkezi bir rol oynamaktadır. Türkiye'de hidroelektrik enerji üretimi amaçlı ilk planlamalar ve yatırımlar 1950’li yıllarda başlamış olup, tarihsel süreçte bu yatırımların büyük kısmı Devlet Su İşleri (DSİ) Genel Müdürlüğü eliyle yürütülmüştür.

Hydroelectric power plants (HPP) play a central role in Türkiye’s renewable energy strategy due to their low operating costs compared to fossil fuels, long operational lifespans, high efficiency rates, and clean structure that does not produce atmospheric emissions. The first planning and investments for hydroelectric energy production in Türkiye began in 1950’s, and historically, the majority of these investments have been carried out by the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ).

Turkey's Wetlands Protection Regulation has been amended with significant changes affecting energy investments, particularly hydroelectric plants, dams, and renewable energy facilities. The new rules introduce environmental flow requirements, permit mechanisms for existing facilities, and establish frameworks for renewable energy installations in artificial wetlands.

Küresel iklim değişikliğiyle mücadele ve sürdürülebilir bir enerji geleceği inşa etme hedefleri doğrultusunda, yenilenebilir enerji kaynaklarının elektrik şebekelerine entegrasyonu her geçen gün daha büyük bir önem kazanmaktadır.

In line with the goals of combating global climate change and building a sustainable energy future, the integration of renewable energy sources into electricity networks is gaining greater importance day by day.

Türk hukukunda rüzgâr türbinlerinin hukuki niteliğine ilişkin özel ve açık bir düzenleme bulunmamaktadır. Bu nedenle konu, öncelikle Türk Medeni Kanunu'nun eşya hukukuna ilişkin genel hükümleri çerçevesinde değerlendirilmelidir.

The UK government has proposed significant changes to its post-Brexit chemical regulation system through an Alternative Transitional Registration Model (ATRm) for UK REACH. Following industry concerns about the substantial costs of re-registering approximately 20,000 substances already registered under EU REACH, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has launched a technical consultation on amendments that would reduce hazard information requirements while maintaining use and exposure standa

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present significant challenges to circular economy initiatives and material recycling systems. These persistent chemicals, known for their resistance to degradation, complicate waste management and product lifecycle strategies. How are regulatory frameworks and industry practices adapting to address PFAS contamination in material cycles?

EU-kommissionen har lagt fram ett förenklingspaket för kemikalielagstiftningen som innebär riktade ändringar av reglerna för klassificering, märkning och förpackning av kemikalier, kosmetika och EU-gödselmedel. Paketet förenklar etikettkrav, öppnar för digital information och ger företag längre tid att märka om produkter efter ändrad klassificering.