Worldwide: Oil, Gas & Electricity

The Upper Tribunal's decision in Putney Power Limited clarifies a critical question in UK tax law: when does a company actually begin trading versus merely preparing to trade? This distinction carries significant consequences for Enterprise Investment Scheme relief and other tax benefits, as the court rejected rigid legal tests in favor of a nuanced, fact-specific analysis of each company's activities and circumstances.

The UK Government's Energy Independence Bill, announced in the King's Speech on 13 May 2026, represents a fundamental shift in energy policy towards domestic resilience and clean power acceleration.

The UK's ambitious Clean Power 2030 strategy and Great Grid Upgrade face a critical planning challenge that threatens to derail progress. As National Grid races to build new transmission lines for renewable energy, local authorities continue granting planning permissions for developments directly on proposed cable routes, forcing costly redesigns and delays.

The UK Government has announced a package of measures to reduce the influence of volatile international gas prices on electricity bills in Great Britain, including a new Wholesale Contracts for Difference scheme for existing low-carbon generators and an increase in the Electricity Generator Levy from 45% to 55%. These interventions follow the second major fossil fuel price shock this decade, triggered by conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Forty years after the Chernobyl disaster, nuclear energy is experiencing a renaissance driven by AI's exponential growth and the urgent need for stable, low-carbon power. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging...

On 21 April 2026 the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Energy Secretary jointly announced a package of measures designed to weaken the relationship between international gas prices and Great Britain’s wholesale electricity price.

In Mercuria Energy Trading SA v Onex DMCC [2026] EWHC 130 (Comm), the Commercial Court has provided important guidance on the contractual effect of "typicals"...

Faster permitting for energy transition projects has become a strategic priority for meeting the EU's climate goals. Streamlining permits will likewise bolster European competitiveness...

To achieve Scotland's and the UK's net zero goals we will need to build many more renewable energy projects...