Gus Wood
Gus Wood is an expert in energy. His in-depth energy knowledge and sector expertise enables him to understand the businesses of energy clients, and also the energy-related challenges increasingly faced by all organisations.
Based in Gowling WLG's Birmingham office, Gus is respected for his in-depth knowledge of the UK electricity and gas sectors, for his expertise in documenting and interpreting regulatory regimes, and for his commercial contracts work within the (often complicated) regulatory frameworks.
Gus is particularly well known for his commercial contracts work in the energy sector. In respect of power purchase agreements (PPAs), for example, he has drafted or negotiated some of the most significant PPAs in the UK renewables sector. He is also an acknowledged expert in heat supply agreements, particularly for combined heat and power projects. A further specialism is in the drafting or negotiation of supply-side agreements, including the development of flexible pricing products and PPA-sleeving arrangements. In addition, he regularly advises on energy trading and fuel supply agreements, on both standard and bespoke terms.
Gus's extensive experience of energy regulation enables him to provide cutting-edge advice on the legislative frameworks that underpin all competitive energy markets. He regularly advises government departments and regulators - as well as energy companies - on the development and interpretation of regulatory frameworks.
Gus's passion for the energy sector and his long-standing involvement in the sector means that he is able to keep on top of the latest developments. He is constantly engaged in cutting-edge sector work, which enables him to add real value when advising clients on developing policy and new products.
In recent years, Gus has been busy advising on corporate PPAs (both virtual and physical corporate PPAs) and battery storage optimisation contracts. He is also assisting a number of clients with hydrogen business models.
Clients
Government departments and regulators responsible for energy, industry bodies responsible for energy codes, energy network companies, electricity generators, energy traders, energy suppliers and energy consumers.
He advises new entrants to the UK energy market on licence applications, accession to the industry codes, drafting of energy supply agreements, drafting of power purchase agreements and negotiation of energy trading agreements (including ISDA, EFET, GTMA and NBP terms).
Gus advises energy project developers on how best to structure and secure their projects in order to comply with and make the most of the applicable regulatory regimes. This includes advice on the regulatory regime, advice on incentive schemes for renewable or low-carbon electricity or heat generation (including CFDs, ROCs, FIT and RHI), connection agreements, fuel supply agreements and power purchase agreements. His experience spans all technologies, including onshore and offshore wind, natural gas, coal, biomass, energy from waste, anaerobic digestion and solar PV.
He has worked for property developers and energy service companies on the creation and operation of energy projects that are integrated into new commercial and residential property developments. The main challenge here is in structuring the projects to ensure they comply with energy regulation and offer sufficient protections to future occupiers.
Experience
Power purchase agreements
- Advising offtakers such as Statkraft on creating and developing template PPAs, and in relation PPA negotiations for a range of technologies including offshore wind, onshore wind, biomass and solar PV, including the Seagreen offshore wind PPA.
- Advising generators, offtakers and balancing agents on corporate PPAs, including both virtual and physical PPA structures.
- Advising developers on long and short-term PPAs – for example: Primrose Solar, Brockwell Energy and Longspur.
Battery storage optimisation agreements
- Advising Pacific Green on its long-term battery optimisation agreement with Shell for two 50 MW batteries.
- Working with Statkraft on its framework with Statera for a mixed portfolio of gas peakers and battery storage projects.
- Assisting Eeelpower with optimisation agreements with a number of optimisers.
- Helping Habitat Energy enter the battery optimisation market.
Hydrogen
- Gus is currently advising BEIS on the Hydrogen Village Trial – a trial which will see 2,000 properties converted from natural gas to hydrogen. Our role has included a detailed analysis of the regulatory regime that currently applies to hydrogen in Great Britain.
- Advising project developers on their applications for funding and support via the Hydrogen Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund.
Energy codes work
- Initially advising Ofgem on the creation of the Retail Energy Code (REC), and now working with the REC Board and Code Manager on the operation of the REC and its development via change proposals.
- Advising BEIS on the drafting and designation of the initial Smart Energy Code (SEC), and continuing to advise SECCo and the SEC Panel since go-live. As well as advising on the SEC, we also advised BEIS on the regulatory framework for smart metering and the drafting of the DCC licence.
- Working with a steering group of electricity distributors and suppliers to create the Distribution Connection and Use of System Agreement (DCUSA). Gus continues to advise the DCUSA Panel on developments to the agreement, including on the development of the National Terms of Connection that govern most of the electricity distribution connection agreements in Great Britain.