On paper, renewable energy zones (REZs) are an effective way to unlock energy generation at scale and move Australia closer to net zero. In reality, it’s more complicated.

In this episode, Ashurst Perkins Coie’s Elena Lambros and Dan Brown are joined by colleague Luke Houghton to explore the opportunities and challenges REZs present. Having helped shape the commercial and financial model behind NSW’s first REZ, Central-West Orana, Luke brings first-hand insight to the conversation. He explains that long-term investors are seeking certainty – on access pricing, construction costs, tax regimes and site suitability.

Luke also reflects on lessons from the Central-West Orana process and explores how the regulated concession model could work beyond energy and beyond Australia.

Check out past and future episodes of Nearing Net Zero on the Ashurst Perkins Coie website. And subscribe to ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie wherever you get your podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of the topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

On paper, renewable energy zones (REZs) are an effective way to unlock energy generation at scale and move Australia closer to net zero. In reality, it&rsquo;s more complicated.
In this episode, Ashurst Perkins Coie&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/elena-lambros/">Elena Lambros</a> and <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/dan-brown/">Dan Brown</a> are joined by colleague <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/luke-houghton/">Luke Houghton</a> to explore the opportunities and challenges REZs present. Having helped shape the commercial and financial model behind NSW&rsquo;s first REZ, Central-West Orana, Luke brings first-hand insight to the conversation. He explains that long-term investors are seeking certainty &ndash; on access pricing, construction costs, tax regimes and site suitability.
Luke also reflects on lessons from the Central-West Orana process and explores how the regulated concession model could work beyond energy and beyond Australia.
Check out past and future episodes of Nearing Net Zero on the <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/insights/all-insights/">Ashurst Perkins Coie website</a>. And subscribe to <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/podcasts/esg-matters-podcasts/">ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie</a> wherever you get your podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of the topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, but how can we take steps to provoke meaningful change and make a lasting impact on environmental, social and governance issues across the globe? We explore the intersection of business value with business values for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, but how can we take steps to provoke meaningful change and make a lasting impact on environmental, social and governance issues across the globe? We explore the intersection of business value with business values for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Join us for our first podcast series, ESG Matters @ Ashurst as we go searching for answers and providing practical advice to help you address the challenges facing your organisation.

ESG Matters @ Ashurst Podcast

As the race to net zero continues, ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie reveals the strategies and tactics that forward thinking organizations are pursuing.

Tackling environmental, social and governance issues, this podcast is packed with real-world innovations and practical ways for organizations to mobilize business values to grow business value.

In every episode, you’ll hear insights about the latest legal and regulatory ESG issues from across our global network. You’ll also hear from organizations that are looking beyond compliance to uncover new commercial upsides from sustainability action.

As the race to net zero continues, ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie reveals the strategies and tactics that forward thinking organizations are pursuing.
Tackling environmental, social and governance issues, this podcast is packed with real-world innovations and practical ways for organizations to mobilize business values to grow business value.
In every episode, you&rsquo;ll hear insights about the latest legal and regulatory ESG issues from across our global network. You&rsquo;ll also hear from organizations that are looking beyond compliance to uncover new commercial upsides from sustainability action.

ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie

Could renewable energy zones be key to Australia’s clean energy future? In this special audio episode (taken from our continuing Nearing Net Zero video series), we look at what it will take to give generators and investors the certainty they need. 

Nearing Net Zero: Unlocking Australia’s renewable energy zones

In this episode of Game Changers, we track the journey of a desktop experiment that became a global business operating in Europe, Japan, North America and now Australia. Game Changers host Elena Lambros talks with Steve Greig about how OCO Technology captures carbon dioxide and locks it permanently into a lightweight aggregate made from industrial ash (residue that would otherwise go to landfill).

Together, Steve and Elena discuss OCO’s expansion into Australia through a joint venture, and three substantial hurdles the business has to clear: regulation that varies from country to country and state to state, a construction industry accustomed to quarried (not synthetic) materials, and the capital intensity of building new plants.

Steve makes the case for rethinking “additionality” (the test investors apply to show that carbon removal depends on credit revenue) and explains why a fixed window for carbon credits leaves financiers asking what happens afterwards. Elena and Steve also emphasise the value of renewables and education in the race to net zero; they reflect on Morocco’s rapid shift to solar; and they consider how companies should cut internal emissions first and choose high-integrity permanent carbon removals.

To listen to this episode search for “ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

In this episode of Game Changers, we track the journey of a desktop experiment that became a global business operating in Europe, Japan, North America and now Australia. Game Changers host Elena Lambros talks with Steve Greig about how OCO Technology captures carbon dioxide and locks it permanently into a lightweight aggregate made from industrial ash (residue that would otherwise go to landfill).
Together, Steve and Elena discuss OCO&rsquo;s expansion into Australia through a joint venture, and three substantial hurdles the business has to clear: regulation that varies from country to country and state to state, a construction industry accustomed to quarried (not synthetic) materials, and the capital intensity of building new plants.
Steve makes the case for rethinking &ldquo;additionality&rdquo; (the test investors apply to show that carbon removal depends on credit revenue) and explains why a fixed window for carbon credits leaves financiers asking what happens afterwards. Elena and Steve also emphasise the value of renewables and education in the race to net zero; they reflect on Morocco&rsquo;s rapid shift to solar; and they consider how companies should cut internal emissions first and choose high-integrity permanent carbon removals.
To listen to this episode search for &ldquo;ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie&rdquo; on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

OCO Technology chief Steve Greig shares the inside story of how he turned a lab-based carbon capture process into a commercial business that is going global.

Game Changers: Turning waste into a building block of the low-carbon economy

In this episode, Ashurst Perkins Coie’s Elena Lambros and Dan Brown are joined by colleague Buck Endemann, global co-head of energy and infrastructure. Together, they peer “behind the meter” at a gap in US clean energy rules: the rules apply to utilities, but don’t stretch to data centers that generate their own power.

Buck explains how the data center boom is driving a corresponding surge in gas-fired power across the US, where few laws require data centers to use clean energy. Australia’s approach varies by state. Some states specify what share of each generation technology new data centers must use for green power, while others leave developers free to solve the speed-to-power problem themselves.

The episode also takes a clear-eyed look at how carbon capture has lost momentum in the US, and at the continuing role of gas. With federal and state regulation intersecting in similar ways in both countries, the US experience offers Australia a timely guide.

Check out past and future episodes of Nearing Net Zero on the Ashurst Perkins Coie website. And subscribe to ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie wherever you get your podcasts.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of the topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

In this episode, Ashurst Perkins Coie&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/elena-lambros/">Elena Lambros</a> and <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/dan-brown/">Dan Brown</a> are joined by colleague <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/buck-endemann/">Buck Endemann</a>, global co-head of energy and infrastructure. Together, they peer &ldquo;behind the meter&rdquo; at a gap in US clean energy rules: the rules apply to utilities, but don&rsquo;t stretch to data centers that generate their own power.
Buck explains how the data center boom is driving a corresponding surge in gas-fired power across the US, where few laws require data centers to use clean energy. Australia&rsquo;s approach varies by state. Some states specify what share of each generation technology new data centers must use for green power, while others leave developers free to solve the speed-to-power problem themselves.
The episode also takes a clear-eyed look at how carbon capture has lost momentum in the US, and at the continuing role of gas. With federal and state regulation intersecting in similar ways in both countries, the US experience offers Australia a timely guide.
Check out past and future episodes of Nearing Net Zero on the <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/insights/all-insights/">Ashurst Perkins Coie website</a>. And subscribe to <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/podcasts/esg-matters-podcasts/">ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie</a> wherever you get your podcasts.
The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in law or practice, or to cover every aspect of the topics discussed. Listeners should obtain legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

In this special audio episode, we report on how data centers are fueling a resurgence in gas across the US. What lessons might this hold for Australia and its path to net zero?

Nearing Net Zero: Life’s a gas for US data centers

While the ‘E’ in ESG commands plenty of attention, the ‘S’ can sometimes be overlooked. In this episode, we consider why environmental progress is only possible when social progress is made too.

Regular Game Changers host Elena Lambros, Risk Advisory Partner, is joined by colleagues from around the globe including sustainability and climate law specialist Becky Clissmann, senior social impacts manager Helena Yeaman, and environmental, climate and energy law specialist Gaëlle Cognet, to explore the human dimensions of net zero.

Together, they draw upon the legacy of founder William Ashurst and his four daughters, who were all advocates for social justice. Their conversation takes in Ashurst Perkins Coie's Modern Slavery Action Plan and the firm’s pro bono work supporting survivors around the world, as well as Ashurst Perkins Coie's procurement practices and its approach to modern slavery risk in the supply chain.

There’s also discussion of:
Why climate change acts as a multiplier of exploitation, displacement and human rights risk
Adaptation challenges facing vulnerable regions, from small island states to mainland Europe
How to embed just transition principles throughout a credible transition plan (rather than leaving them sidelined a single paragraph)
How financing tools can help deliver a fairer transition in Africa.

Further reading: 
Transition Planning
COP 30: A further step towards a just transition in Africa; and
Adapting to climate change: innovative tools in development and climate finance

To listen to this episode search for “ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

While the &lsquo;E&rsquo; in ESG commands plenty of attention, the &lsquo;S&rsquo; can sometimes be overlooked. In this episode, we consider why environmental progress is only possible when social progress is made too.
Regular Game Changers host <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/people/elena-lambros/">Elena Lambros</a>, Risk Advisory Partner, is joined by colleagues from around the globe including sustainability and climate law specialist <a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/in/beckyclissmann">Becky Clissmann</a>, senior social impacts manager <a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/in/helenayeaman">Helena Yeaman</a>, and environmental, climate and energy law specialist <a href="https://fr.linkedin.com/in/gaellecognet">Ga&euml;lle Cognet</a>, to explore the human dimensions of net zero.
Together, they draw upon the legacy of founder William Ashurst and his four daughters, who were all advocates for social justice. Their conversation takes in Ashurst Perkins Coie's Modern Slavery Action Plan and the firm&rsquo;s pro bono work supporting survivors around the world, as well as Ashurst Perkins Coie's procurement practices and its approach to modern slavery risk in the supply chain.
There&rsquo;s also discussion of:
<ul>
<li>Why climate change acts as a multiplier of exploitation, displacement and human rights risk</li>
<li>Adaptation challenges facing vulnerable regions, from small island states to mainland Europe</li>
<li>How to embed just transition principles throughout a credible transition plan (rather than leaving them sidelined a single paragraph)</li>
<li>How financing tools can help deliver a fairer transition in Africa.</li>
</ul>
Further reading: <a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/what-we-do/integrated-solutions/climate-transition-plan-assessment-solution/"></a>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/what-we-do/integrated-solutions/climate-transition-plan-assessment-solution/">Transition Planning</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/insights/cop30-a-further-step-towards-a-just-transition-in-africa/">COP 30: A further step towards a just transition in Africa; </a>and</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ashurstperkinscoie.com/en/insights/adapting-to-climate-change-innovative-tools-in-development-and-climate-finance/">Adapting to climate change: innovative tools in development and climate finance</a></li>
</ul>
To listen to this episode search for &ldquo;ESG Matters by Ashurst Perkins Coie&rdquo; on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
This podcast is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

In this special edition of Game Changers, we discuss how to deliver a genuinely fair transition to net zero, so that no community gets left behind.

Nearing Net Zero: Unlocking Australia’s renewable energy zones

ESG Matters @ Ashurst Podcast

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