Our Clients

London Array

Pioneering the wind energy revolution

Image: courtesy of London Array

Everyday the turbines at London Array spin off the Kent coast, the offshore wind farm provides over half a million UK households with clean energy.

“That is how powerful our everyday job is,” says Yufan Cai, Head of Commercial and Finance at London Array. “Our people really believe in green energy and that the work we do carries value that goes beyond the day-to-day.” Construction began on London Array in 2009 and it became fully operational four years later. Today it is one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world. As part of the senior management team at London Array, Cai leads activities including contract and procurement, and financial management of the company. Her core objectives are to ensure its four shareholders – RWE, Ørsted, Masdar and CDPQ – get the best possible commercial deals and to maintain a sound financial management system for the wind farm.

The shareholders set up an operating company as a special purpose vehicle to run the wind farm on their behalf. And according to Cai, this unique structure gives the business a distinct advantage over the wider market, as it has more autonomy and flexibility to make decisions and resolve issues quickly. For London Array, innovation is constant – and costly. “Technology in wind or renewables is developing rapidly because everyone knows that’s the future,” says Cai, adding that the company has invested heavily in strengthening its cable protection system technology and is currently exploring how it can use hydrogen-powered vessels offshore.

Charles Russell Speechlys is currently helping London Array to formalise the commercial and technical arrangements, having worked with the wind farm since 2016. As well as providing corporate and commercial advice, the firm has advised on a variety of employment, tax and IP matters.

“London Array’s renewable credentials and environmental positioning are hugely important to Charles Russell Speechlys,” says Kevin Forsyth, a Partner in the firm’s Construction, Engineering & Projects team. “We’re delighted to be working with them.”

of its income is subsidised by the Government

So what does the future hold for renewable energy and offshore wind providers like London Array? Currently most still rely on subsidies from the government, but with further development in technology, and as the wider market matures, it’s a realistic goal that renewable energy including offshore wind will become commercially independent. “But to get there, it’s incredibly important for us to reduce our operating costs, ” Cai says. “We are green, and we want to create value for society and a better environment for future generations, so we need our supporting service industries to help us to achieve that mission. This includes our supply chain and professional services such as legal and insurance.”

“Our people really believe in green energy and that the work we do carries value that goes beyond the day-to-day”

Yufan Cai, Head of Commercial and Finance, London Array

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