Pinsent Masons advises Q ENERGY on the design and drafting of a refurbishment contract for a pioneering and innovative wind farm project based on second-hand turbines in France

Pinsent Masons has advised Q ENERGY on the design and drafting of a refurbishment contract for an innovative wind project in France, relying exclusively on second-hand wind turbines. The project, scheduled for commissioning in 2028, represents a significant step forward in the integration of circular‑economy principles within the renewable energy sector.

As one of the first projects in France to be developed entirely with second‑life wind assets, this initiative addresses key challenges facing the industry, including equipment scarcity, resource optimisation and the reduction of the environmental footprint associated with renewable energy infrastructure. The project is supported by a strategic industrial partnership with Rengineers B.V, a leading European specialist in the refurbishment of critical wind turbine components.

Within this innovative framework, Pinsent Masons mobilised its recognised expertise in infrastructure and renewable energy projects to support Q ENERGY in the design, structuring and drafting of a fully bespoke refurbishment contract. The contract was tailored to the technical, industrial and operational specificities of second‑life turbines. The objective was to establish a contractual architecture that is both legally robust and operationally agile, while ensuring compatibility with financing requirements and project‑delivery constraints.

The contractual framework developed addresses the following items:

• multi‑stage processes covering diagnostics, refurbishment operations, testing, inspections and certification,
• progressive acceptance mechanisms and structured management of residual works,
• a refined and balanced allocation of technical, industrial and operational risks,
• contractual tools adapted to the inherent variability and heterogeneity of refurbished equipment,
• alignment with lender expectations and project‑execution milestones.

This mandate highlights the ability of Pinsent Masons and its France Finance & Projects team led by Eran Chvika, to support innovative industrial projects involving complex technical interfaces and non‑standard contractual models. It also reflects the firm’s strong and long‑standing expertise in the energy sector, where it advises on strategic projects across the full value chain.