Renewable energy insurance considerations for your project

Protecting your renewable energy project

From the early planning stages through to construction and completion, your renewable energy project will face many challenges and unique risks. Identifying these risks and having plans in place to manage them is crucial. That’s why we’ve highlighted the pertinent renewable energy insurance considerations at each stage of the project lifecycle.

Renewable energy project finance and concept design

In our experience, a rigorous review of insurance risks at this phase will often identify project-related enhancements that may have otherwise gone largely unconsidered. So understanding and addressing these risks at this stage can bring considerable benefits. For example:

Does your renewable energy insurance programme meet your corporate structure and contractual requirements, including any option to lease agreements?
Do you have an experienced renewable energy project team and have you taken the necessary due diligence reviews on your supply chain?
Have you engaged your insurance broker and insurers early for feedback on initial designs so any required loss controls can be factored in?

Typical renewable energy insurance solutions include:

Abortive planning cover
Directors and Officers Liability (D&O)
Legal indemnities
Employers liability
Public and products liability

Construction

You may engage a main contractor to carry out the construction works on your behalf. Depending on the terms of the contract, it may then be the responsibility of the contractor to insure the works during the build and cover any associated liabilities. However this approach of contractors and sub-contractors taking on the risk and insurance responsibilities alone can lead to insufficient cover and leave you open to risk. An owner controlled insurance programme (OCIP) is an arrangement where you purchase certain insurances for the construction project which provides cover for all parties involved, ensuring you are adequately covered.

Typical insurance solutions include:

Contract works
Delay in start-up
Third party liability
Employers liability
Environmental impairment liability
Marine and transit
Terrorism

Operations

Following the successful handover of the project from construction to operation, insurances for the operational phase will need to be implemented. These must be considered at the concept stage of the project and then terms firmed up during the construction phase.

Typical insurance solutions include:

Material damage and mechanical breakdown
Business interruption
Third party liability
Employers liability
Environmental impairment liability
Terrorism
Cyber

Managing your renewable energy project risks

We appreciate that while there are many common risks inherent in renewable energy projects, individual operating methods can often result in distinct and different risk impacts. That’s why we recommend speaking to an insurance broker with in-depth knowledge of the renewable energy sector who will spend the time getting to know you and your unique challenges. If you have any questions or would like more information, speak to one of our renewable energy experts.