Coronavirus (COVID-19)—Impact on the energy sector

Article summary

Energy Analysis: Although it is too early to tell the full impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the energy sector, some early issues and trends are emerging. Silke Goldberg, partner, Reza Dadbakhsh, partner (London), Will Breeze, partner (London), Mathias Dantin, counsel (Paris), Matthew Job, partner (London), Lorenzo Parola, partner (Milan), Ignacio Paz, partner (Madrid) and Kingsley Boateng, associate, at Herbert Smith Freehills examine this impact on, and some future challenges for, the upstream oil and gas sector, the European power sector and the EU ETS, and the recent actions of the regulators across Europe. The effects of the pandemic on energy infrastructure, energy sector M&A activity and the timetables for renewable energy subsidy tenders across Europe are also considered, alongside summaries of the legislative support measures for vulnerable customers in some of the worst affected European jurisdictions.