Clifford Chance

The energy transition is the global shift from fossil fuels to renewables and low-carbon energy sources to reduce energy-related carbon emissions and limit climate change.

The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy to address the climate crisis was never going to be easy and involves expensive trade-offs between economics and climate. However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made that transition much harder as energy security becomes a major problem for many countries. David Evans, Senior Counsel and co-head of the Americas Energy and Projects Group at Clifford Chance in Washington D.C explores the legal and practical challenges that need to be considered.

The European Commission (the Commission) has issued proposals aiming to broadly equalise Europe's net zero industry with the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and China's near-monopoly on many critical exports. As part of the EU Green Deal Industrial Plan, the Commission has released a legislative proposal for a Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA).

The world of energy has always been the subject of acronyms, industry short-hand and slang. With the acceleration in energy transition, we are all learning about new technologies and developments that will assist in our journey toward decarbonisation. This has resulted in the evolution of additional “industry speak” in the area of energy transition. The aim of this “Energy Transition Decoded – A to Z Guide” is to try to demystify some of the terminology we encounter in the industry. We have collected in the lexicon terminology from across our global network of 33 offices in 22 countries.