COVID-19 & Your Global Renewables Supply Chain - 10 Step Guide - Germany
Written By
Partner
Germany
As a partner in our Hamburg office, I offer our clients long-standing expertise in renewables, energy networks and complex infrastructure projects. I have been active in the energy sector since 2010, which has provided me with a profound inside knowledge as well as a good understanding of the energy business.
The renewables sector is feeling the impact as COVID-19 begins to cause huge global disruption to supply chains. The renewables sector is heavily reliant on global supply chains for raw materials and components, as well as an available workforce to physically build, operate & maintain the power plants.
Whilst we note that Chinese factories are now at various stages of restarting and ramping back up capacity, production across the rest of the globe is currently being hindered and disrupted. Examples of the practical impacts COVID-19 is having in the renewables sector supply chain are:
- Imports/Exports stopped - countries are enacting different measures concerning import of goods and services from COVID-19 high risk countries. The European Commission has allowed each Member State to adopt measures (proportionate and not prejudicial) aimed at safeguarding the health of its citizens and to prevent the spread of the virus COVID-19.
- Factories and test facilities closing/reducing output – countries are adopting differing approaches as to whether or not production must halt, which precaution measures needs to be taken (e.g. distance regulations for workers), and this is changing almost daily.
- Reduced workforce – employees not coming to work due to selfisolation, sickness or fear of risks.
- Travel bans – many countries have closed borders. Certain work in the sector (such as transport (on- and offshore), specialist installation or operation and maintenance) may require overseas-based specialists who are unable to get to the location of work due to travel restrictions.
Renewables is also a sector packed with tight contractual deadlines and liquidated damages (“pauschalierter Schadensersatz”) and/or penalties (“Vertragsstrafen”) for delay. Some project developers as well as utilities/generators need to grant a relief to their EPC and O&M Contractors, having no or little chance to mitigate the loss or damages. There are also often deployment deadlines in countries’ auction systems, however there has been a positive note by the German Federal Network Agency (“BNetzA” – see in German).
The above all means that customers and suppliers are keen to understand their liabilities under their contracts should COVID-19 cause delay, and to work collaboratively to find solutions. Of particular interest is on which remedies a party may rely on in case of COVID-19 (such as suspension, termination or entitlement to increased costs under the change in law clause).
This note looks at how German contract law on force majeure applies to the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights other contractual hints and tips that both customers and suppliers should be aware of.
