In recent decades, renewable energy has been at the vanguard of the global push toward net zero. In 2024, renewables accounted for more than 90% of total global electric power expansion, and the share of renewables in global end-use energy consumption will continue to rise. However, in certain regions, reliance on renewable power may now be reaching its limits while projected power demand—especially related to data centers—is surging. The collision of green energy supply constraints with burgeoning demand is fueling both renewed interest in nuclear power together with whole new classes of disputes, highlighting the need for innovative dispute resolution.
In “Dispute Resolution Revolution for the Energy Transition,” authors Glenn R. George and Ben Sokol discuss one change in particular: the emergence of nuclear–data center colocation projects. In these projects, nuclear plants are dedicated or even directly connected to the load they serve, giving rise to novel disputes, including concerns about how such projects affect system-wide resource adequacy, the impact of these projects on the transmission network, and the methods used for cost allocation. To address evolving challenges, Dr. George and Mr. Sokol touch on how arbitral institutions are adapting to meet the needs of energy transition projects, carbon market disputes, and global climate change.
