David Ryan

Practice Areas

David is a senior member of Herbert Smith Freehills’ energy and infrastructure practice. He has unparalleled experience advising on first in market projects and on significant mergers & acquisitions, major project developments and market reforms in the electricity (utilities) and infrastructure sectors.

During 2024 David led the HSF team advising NSW Treasury/EnergyCo on implementing the Central-West Orana renewable energy zone and the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap more broadly. The NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap is the most significant electricity infrastructure matter/reform project currently underway in Australia. It is NSW’s first competitive process for procuring electricity transmission network infrastructure, the development of network access schemes, coordination of connecting generation projects and significant amendments to the application of the National Electricity Rules in NSW. It will be followed by further REZ projects in New England, South-West, Hunter Central Coast and the Illawarra regions of NSW.

Work Highlights

David’s other significant matters during 2024 included advising:

• Marinus Link on development of the 1,500MW Marinus Link interconnector project across Bass Strait, including obtaining an initial regulatory determination for the project.

• BlackRock on its acquisition of Global Infrastructure Partners.

• CDPQ on the sale of its interest in Plenary Group.

• Upper Hunter Hydro on entry into two Development Agreements with WaterNSW for the development of pumped hydro projects at WaterNSW’s Glennies Creek and Glenbawn dam sites.

• Mainstream Renewable Power Australia and Someva Renewables on entry into permits with NSW Forestry Corporation for development of the Sunny Corner wind farm.

• Origin Energy on a managed closure agreement with the State of NSW for the Eraring power station.

• AGL on establishment of the Loy Yang Remediation Fund with Alinta for the rehabilitation of the Loy Yang coal mine on closure of the Loy Yang A and Loy Yang B power stations.

• HMC Capital on its bid for the Neoen Victoria renewables portfolio.

• Windlab on the sale of its asset management business to RES.

• Mineral Resources Limited on its sale of a 50% interest in the Onslow iron ore haul road to the Port of Ashburton to Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners.

• Woodside on PPA and BESSA arrangements with Pacific Energy for development of the Maitland solar farm project and BESS on the Burrup Peninsula in WA.