Renewable Energy
Energy Sector
Globally we are at a fundamental point in the transition of the international energy sector to a low carbon future. With climate change taking on a renewed urgency in the public consciousness, the decarbonisation of the energy sector will only accelerate in the coming years.
In Ireland the primary renewable energy sources are Wind On-Shore and Offshore, Solar Power, and some Waste to Energy. Others include tidal power, residential/commercial premises solar power (thermal and PV), biomass and biofuels.
With the growing demand for new projects the energy sector which attracts very high levels of investment there is a need for levels of security in order to mitigate investor risk. Many challenges face these projects such as financing, planning, construction, environmental risk, energy production shortfalls and grid connectivity.
In order to reduce this risk for the developers and funders Surety Bonds, which there are many types can be utilised such as:
- Performance Bonds
- Advanced Payment Bonds
- Environmental Protection Agency approved On-Demand Bonds
- Operation and Maintenance Bonds
- Reinstatement Bonds / Decommissioning Bonds
- Letters of Credit or replacement LOC’s from banks
- Bespoke and many more
Power Market Bonds
In Ireland we also support the Energy Industry with the provision of Power Market Bonds, that is:
ESB Networks – Distribution Use of Systems Agreements
Eirgrid – Transmission Use of Systems Agreements
SEMO (Single Electricity Market Operator) – Trading and Settlement Codes
Bonds can be provided by banks or insurance companies known as sureties. The benefit of using a surety over a bank is in order to avoid impingement on your company’s banking credit lines or working capital. If a bank is used to provide the bond, then they see it as a form of loan which will impact credit facilities and usually the companies balance sheet, whereas a bond provided for by a surety is considered off balance sheet freeing up banking credit lines for more productive use.
