Luke Edney

Partner
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Austin
United States
T:+1 713 651 3693
Austin
United States
T:+1 713 651 3693

Biography

Luke Edney is an energy and infrastructure projects attorney focusing on project development, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures. He has significant experience working with developers on the acquisition, development, financing and disposal of infrastructure, conventional and renewable energy, hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture, and petrochemical projects. His experience extends to hydrogen, ammonia, carbon capture, battery storage, wind, solar, hydro, microgrids, LNG, infrastructure (including ports, highways, rail, pipelines, high-voltage transmission) and conventional thermal power.

Luke's experience includes assisting clients throughout the project development process, including in the negotiation and drafting of development agreements, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) agreements, construction and asset management agreements, operating and maintenance agreements, power purchase agreements, offtake agreements, feedstock supply agreements, joint operating agreements, joint venture arrangements and asset purchase and sale agreements.  In additional, Luke advises clients on issues arising during development of projects, including change orders and disputes relating to commissioning, warranties, and project performance.

Before moving to the United States, he lived and worked in Tokyo, Japan and Queensland, Australia. During his time in Japan, Luke was seconded to one of Japan's largest international oil and gas companies working on the development and financing of the world's largest post-combustion, carbon capture and storage projects. During his time in Australia, Luke worked on the development of a number infrastructure and energy projects, including the development of port and rail infrastructure, LNG, Coal Seam Gas, and conventional and renewable power projects. 


Professional experience

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  • Masters of Business Management (MbusMgt), Monash University, 2012
  • Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GradDipLP), College of Law, 2008
  • Bachelor of Laws (Honors) (LLB), University of Queensland, 2007
  • Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) (BCom), University of Queensland, 2007
  • Texas State Bar

Battery Energy Storage

Represented Matrix Renewables in an agreement to acquire the 105 MWac solar plus 80 MWh energy storage Gaskell West 2 and 3 project from Canadian Solar Inc. through its wholly-owned subsidiary Recurrent Energy, LLC, including advising on and negotiating battery energy storage and long term service agreements, photovoltaic module supply agreement, inverter (PCS) supply agreement and tracker supply agreement, operations and maintenance agreement, asset management agreement.

Represented utility scale solar + storage developer in the negotiation of build-transfer agreements with utility for solar + storage projects including 600 MWs of solar PV system and 480 MWs of battery storage, including negotiating forms of battery energy storage system procurement and long term service agreements, photovoltaic module supply agreement, operations and maintenance agreement.

Represented Key Capture Energy on procurement and long term maintenance of battery energy storage equipment for 380 MWs of battery energy storage projects in New York and Texas.

Represented Jupiter Energy on the development of in excess of 400 MW of battery energy storage projects in Texas, including battery energy storage, inverter (PCS), energy management system (EMS) and transformer procurement, and balance of plant construction agreements.

Represented Convergent Energy + Power on development of three small scale grid stabilization battery energy storage projects in New York, including battery energy storage procurement and long term service agreements and balance of plant construction agreements.

Represented Convergent Energy in negotiation of engineering, procurement and construction agreements with CS Energy for the provision of balance of plant construction with respect to three battery storage projects in New York.

Represented Broad Reach Power on the development of in excess of 1,450 MW of battery energy storage projects in Texas and California, including battery energy storage, inverter (PCS), energy management system (EMS) and transformer procurement, and balance of plant construction agreements.

Represented Broad Reach Power, as developer, in relation to the procurement of 900 MWh of battery systems from Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) for six Texas projects.

Represented private equity sponsored asset management platform on development of battery energy storage projects to be located at existing conventional power facilities.

Represented Arroyo Energy on battery power installation in Mexico to enhance and stabilize a gas fired power station.

Represented renewable energy solutions provider for C&I property owners on procurement of battery energy storage systems.

Hydrogen, Ammonia and Biofuels

Represented developer of world-scale ammonia project in Texas, including the negotiation of EPC contract, feedstock supply agreements, and offtake agreements.

Represented developer of blue ammonia facility being developed in Louisiana, including advising on front end engineering and design, and engineering, procurement and construction agreements.

Represented developer of low-carbon hydrogen projects utilized proprietary waste processing system, including advising on front end engineering and design, and engineering, procurement and construction agreements.

Represented developer of renewable diesel (HVO) and renewable jet fuel (SAF) complex under development in South America, including advising on development agreement structure, equipment procurement, technology licensing, and engineering, procurement and construction agreement.

Represented acquirer on the proposed acquisition of a gas-to-liquids project in Louisiana including advice on contracting arrangements for the partially built project; strategy and risk mitigation for addressing issues related with outstanding technology, licensing, construction and procurement issues.

Represented a private investor on the development of renewable diesel production facility with a nameplate capacity of 100 million gallons annually to be located on the Texas Gulf Coast, including offtake, tolling, feedstock supply and construction agreements.

Represented chemical manufacture company on the proposed development of new assets at a poly vinyl facility in Louisiana, including ground lease, common facilities usage, feedstock, offtake and port infrastructure development and use agreements.

Carbon Capture and Carbon Products

Represented a leading carbon capture technology company in development of projects utilizing proprietary carbon capture and storage technology, including project structuring, front end engineering and design, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC).

Represented JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation regarding development of all aspects of the Petra Nova post combustion carbon capture and CO2 Enhanced Oil Recovery Project in Houston, Texas, including advising on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), pipeline construction agreement, operating and maintenance, feedstock supply, flue gas offtake, CO2 offtake and supply and joint venture arrangement.

Represented Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, LLC (a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum Corporation) on investment NET Power's low-cost, 'oxyfuel' natural gas electric power system.

Represented Independent Power Producer on development of 'bolt on' post combustion carbon capture facilities for existing conventional power assets in the United States.

Wider Renewable Energy (Wind, Solar, HVDC, Hydro, biomass)

Represented solar project developers in the direct procurement of solar modules, inverters, trackers, including as one of orders or as part of master volume commitments.

Represented European infrastructure investment firm in relation to the engineering, procurement and construction contracts for the 440 MWdc Fighting Jays solar + storage project in Fort Bend County, TX, USA.

Represented European infrastructure investment firm in the acquisition of the development-stage Swan Lake and Goldendale, 393 MW and 1.2 GW, pumped storage hydroelectric projects located in Oregon and Washington, USA, from National Grid Ventures and Rye Development.

Represented Soo Green HVDC Link ProjectCo in relation to the development of a 350-mile, 2.1 GW, high voltage, direct current transmission line to be installed underground along existing railroad rights of way.

Represented developer of solar and solar + storage project, including advising on front end engineering and design agreement, engineering, procurement and construction agreement, photovoltaic module supply, battery energy storage procurement agreements.

Represented Goldman Sachs Renewable Power on the acquisition and development of multiple solar power transactions, including (i) the US$350 million acquisition of a 204 MW portfolio of 76 distributed solar energy projects located at more than 200 sites throughout the US from a solar developer; and (ii) the acquisition of solar energy projects under development in Illinois and Rhode Island. Advice included negotiation of development agreements for acquisitions of development projects (including EPC, module and inverter supply, operating and maintenance, construction management and development agreements).

Represented the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Fund of The Carlyle Group in the formation of a joint venture with Alchemy Renewable Energy, LLC (ARE) for the development of solar power projects, including master operating and maintenance agreement, and REC contracting.

Represented Global Atlantic Financial Group on the acquisition of in-development solar power projects, including construction management, operating and maintenance, and administration and management agreements.

Represented New Fortress Energy on the proposed development of combined LNG/solar microgrid facilities in Puerto Rico, including negotiation of power purchase and site lease agreements.

Represented a Japanese trading house on a proposed US$250 million investment in a Texas based in development wind energy project.

Represented the tax equity investor in an anaerobic digester project under development located in Wisconsin, including advising on feedstock supply, renewable natural gas offtake and biomass offtake.

Represented developer of multiple anaerobic digestor projects in mid-west, including advising on feedstock supply, construction, and offtake arrangements.

Represented leading developer of waste solutions in the development waste-to-energy project on Caribbean Island.

Represented a listed energy company in development and operation of landfill waste gas power facilities in Australia and United States.

Represented a private equity investor in micro grid power development, including advising on development agreements, construction and installation agreements and power purchase arrangements.

Represented Global Atlantic Financial Group on the acquisition of solar projects in Nevada.

Represented Avant Energy on proposed equity investment in, and development and construction of, a large-scale solar energy project in Mexico, including EPC agreement, operation and maintenance agreements and major component supply agreements.

Advised a private equity backed solar developer on module and inverter supply, construction, operation, maintenance and asset management agreements.

Project Finance

Represented lender to solar energy project developer on development financing, including securitization of equipment supply.

Represented lender on acquisition and expansion of a portfolio of simple cycle gas fired power assets in north east United States

Represented Macquarie Bank Limited on a range of commodity backed financing arrangements in US market. 

Represented JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation on two tranche financing of integrated electricity, petrochemical and oil & gas project, Texas. Advising on limited-recourse project financing of Texas based project including a power generation, petrochemical, pipeline and oil field assets lead by Mizuho, JBIC and NEXI. Advising on mezzanine equity finance by JBIC into JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation project company.

Represented Arrow Energy on refinancing of Braemar 2 Power Station. Refinancing of Braemar 2 Power Station with international banking syndicate to coincide with acquisition of remaining 25.05%.

Represented Lender syndicate on PNG LNG project financing, including securitization in PNG and Australia and other project financing requirements for project financiers of the PNG LNG Project.

Represented developer on the financing of a wind farm with battery storage in Baja California Sur, Mexico.

Represented a lender on proposed investment in a combined wind plus storage project in Mexico.

Represented a lender on proposed investment in battery energy storage projects in Texas and California.

Conventional Power

Represented The Carlyle Group on renegotiation of operation and maintenance agreements for gas fired power assets in US.

Represented New Fortress Energy on proposed temporary emergency power project, including negotiation of turbine supply agreements and civil construction agreements, as well as aero derivative mobile power solutions.

Represented a private equity consortium on implementation of new operating and maintenance arrangements for a 1 GW CCGT facility located in Mexico.

Represented Arroyo Energy on the acquisition and development of a gas fired power station in Mexico, including common facilities, construction, operation and long term maintenance agreements.

Advised a potential investor in the sale of Japanese investment in a nuclear power construction project in the US.

Represented on the refinancing of an equity interest in high voltage transmission lines running through Nevada from the Hoover Dam, westward to Los Angeles and eastward to Arizona.

Represented a private equity fund on equity investment in and development of a reciprocating motor and battery power station in Mexico.

Represented New Fortress Energy on negotiation and execution of long term maintenance and operating agreements for power assets in Jamaica.

Represented a private equity investor in purchase and financing of three aero derivative power projects in the Northeast.

Represented a private equity investor in purchase in renegotiation of O&M arrangements for gas fired CCGT in Texas.

Represented a private equity investor in purchase and negotiation of O&M agreements for gas fired CCGT assets in the United States.

LNG and other midstream

Represented a multinational pipeline and energy company in its investment in Texas based LNG project developing and constructing a 6.5mm metric ton/year South Texas LNG export facility.

Represented an integrated LNG company in the proposed development of combined LNG/solar microgrid facilities in Puerto Rico.

Represented a multi-national Energy Company in proposed equity and joint venture arrangements in connection with the development of an LNG export project in Brownsville, Texas.

Represented New Fortress Energy on development of a number of energy projects in the United States, Mexico and Caribbean, including small scale LNG import and power generation facilities in Jamaica and Mexico and large-scale LNG processing facility in the US.

Represented New Fortress Energy in the development of a 2.6 mtpa LNG terminal in Pennsylvania.

Represented New Fortress Energy in all aspects of the development of multiple small-scale LNG import and power generation projects in Jamaica, including a floating regasification and storage unit, a new gas-fired power plant, conversation of a diesel power plant to natural gas, and onshore natural gas infrastructure. Areas of representation include negotiation of EPC contracts, natural gas purchase and sale agreements, steam sales agreements and project financing.

Represented Riverstone Holdings in an equity commitment to Aleph Midstream S.A., an Argentine company focused on the development, construction and operation of midstream infrastructure assets in the Vaca Muerta shale in Argentina.

Advised Cryosys LLC on development and construction of optimized compact modular LNG and NGL plants.

Represented oilfield infrastructure company on development of sand storage rail transloading facilities servicing the fracking industry.

Infrastructure

Represented Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and consortium partner Ullico in their winning bid to acquire a 100 percent interest in CenTrio (formerly known as Enwave Energy US), the largest pure-play district energy platform in the U.S. from Brookfield Infrastructure, which delivers heating and cooling capacity and provides commercial and residential energy infrastructure services..

Represented private equity investor in the proposed acquisition of a micro trenched fiber-to-the-home internet development company in the US, including review of all construction and development agreements, test projects and implementation technology.

Represented Private Equity investor in the US$300 million acquisition of a cell tower and mobile communication assets in Columbia and Peru.

Represented Wiggens Island Coal Export Terminal on the development of coal export termination at Wiggens Island, Gladstone, QLD, Australia, including advising on consortium agreement, long term access and usage agreements, and rail coal haulage infrastructure.

Represented mining company on drafting and negotiation of EPCM Agreement for development of mining facility development in Colombia.

Represented Enviva Development Holdings in the formation of a new joint venture, Enviva JV Development Company, with The John Hancock Life Insurance Company to acquire, develop, and construct wood pellet production plants and deep-water marine terminals in the southeastern United States.

Oil & Gas, petrochemicals

Represented Summit Midstream in negotiating and drafting the engineering, procurement and construction contract for gas processing facilities in New Mexico.

Represented Jefferson Energy on engineering, procurement and construction of crude oil pipelines in Texas.

Advising Modular Plant Solutions on engineering, procurement, installation and operation of small-scale modular methanol plants.

Represented Saudi Basic Industries corporation (SABIC) on development of a petrochemical project to be developed in a joint venture with ExxonMobil. Advice includes organizational and document strategy, risk analysis, advising on and drafting term sheets and agreements such as offtake, ground lease, and long term O&M.

Represented Westlake Chemicals on reorganization and restructuring of Ethylene operations, including Ethylene sales agreements, Ethylene offtake, ground lease, operating and service agreements.

Represented DCP Midstream on the formation and development of the Gulf Coast Express, a 430 mile, 42-inch pipeline from the Waha, Texas area to Agua Dulce, Texas, including formation and joint venture agreements, construction, operation and maintenance agreements.

Represented the Government of Ecuador on the development concession negotiations for a LPG import terminal.

Represented Talos Energy, a portfolio company of Apollo Global Management and Riverstone Holdings, in its $2.5 billion combination with Stone Energy, creating an offshore-focused E&P company.

Represented Oasis Petroleum in the US$946 million acquisition of acreage in the Delaware Basin from Forge Energy.

Represented Osaka Gas USA Co. in its US$610 million acquisition of 100% of the outstanding shares of Sabine Oil & Gas Corporation, a subsidiary of Sabine Oil & Gas Holdings.

Represented Talara Capital Management in its US$75 million line of equity commitment to Crescent Pass Energy Holdings.

Represented Osaka Gas USA Co. in the acquisition from, and joint venture with, Sabine Oil & Gas relating to oil and gas properties located in Harrison and Panola Counties, TX.

Represented a private equity backed company in the US$60 million sale of upstream assets in Colorado and Wyoming to Clear Creek Resource Partners.

Represented CVR Logistics in drafting and negotiating oil offtake agreements, oil transportation agreements, pipeline operating and maintenance agreements, and terminalling and storage agreements for facilities in Texas and Oklahoma.

Represented Unit Corporation in its US$300 million sale of a 50% equity interest in Superior Pipeline Company to SP Investor Holdings, an entity jointly owned by OPTrust and Partners Group, including establishment of management and operating agreements for a newly independent pipeline operating entity.

 

  • IFLR1000 – United States, Rising Star, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, 2020 - 2021
  • IFLR1000 – United States, Rising Star, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, 2022 - 2023
  • IFLR1000 – United States, Notable Lawyer - Texas, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, 2023
  • Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, Project finance, The Legal 500, 2023
  • Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, Energy and infrastructure development, M&A, Securities, 2023
  • Author, "Battery Purchase Contracts," Norton Rose Fulbright NewsWire, December, 2021.
  • Co-author, "Solar panel import duties: contract minefield," Norton Rose Fulbright, April 27, 2022.
  • Co-author, "Battery Energy Storage Contracts – Key Pitfalls," Norton Rose Fulbright NewsWire, August, 2022.
  • Speaker, "Financing Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Projects - Key Issues to Consider for a Bankable Project", IEL Conference on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage, October 11, 2023
  • Speaker, "Development Issues in Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Projects- Key Clauses When Negotiating Developments Agreements", IEL Conference on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage, October 11, 2023
  • Moderator, "Developer and Financier Perspectives: Structuring Options and Solutions for Behind the Meter Storage Projects", Infocast Energy Storage Finance & Investement, June 23, 2023
  • Speaker, "Wage and apprentice and domestic content," 32nd Energy Finance Conference, June 16, 2023
  • Speaker, "Steel: Getting to Net Zero," Carbon+Intel Forum, May 24, 2023
  • Faculty, "Workshop: Tools of the Trade: Skill-Building and Applications for Negotiations Techniques," National Hydropower Association Water Power Week, May 10, 2023
  • Moderator, "Innovative Approaches To Energy Storage Procurement," US Energy Storage Market Outlook 2023, November 16, 2022
  • Speaker, "Commercial Awareness in Project Development: Management of Change," Norton Rose Fulbright Webinar, May 26, 2022
  • Speaker, "Renewable Energy Storage: Implementing Projects, Overcoming Co-Location Challenges, and Mitigating Risks," Strafford Webinars, January 26, 2022
  • Speaker, "Battery Energy Storage, an Overview," Gas and Power Institute, October 14, 2021
  • Speaker, "Energy Transition: Recent Developments and What You Need To Know As Oil & Gas Companies Transition Into Green Energy," TJOGEL Symposium, February 26, 2021
  • State Bar of Texas
  • American Clean Power Association (ACP)