Clean technology series: Renewable energy technology – powering the future

Renewable energy refers to energy generated from sources which naturally replenish (or renew) at a rate equal to or faster than they are consumed. This contrasts to conventional fossil fuel sources, which are laid down over millions of years and therefore, in practice, cannot be replaced once used.

There has been increased interest and investment in the renewable energy sector in recent years. A switch to renewable energy is seen as a key part of the global effort to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, as reflected in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of “ensur[ing] access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” (SDG7¹). As nations push towards this goal, renewable energy technologies have developed rapidly.

These technological advances have led to greater efficiency in energy generation and lower production costs, making renewable energy an increasingly viable alternatives to fossil fuels. According to the International Energy Agency’s 2023 Renewables report, “the world is on course to add more renewable capacity in the next five years than has been installed since the first commercial renewable energy power plant was built more than 100 years ago”², with the biggest increases seen in solar and wind technologies. This surge in new capacity is helped by the fact that renewables now represent the cheapest source of new electricity generation in many parts of the world.

In our new series of articles, we will explore the challenges and exciting opportunities associated with a range of renewable energy technologies – solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and bioenergy – and dive deeper into some of the recent innovations in these areas. To kick off this series, we take a brief look at the science behind these different technologies and consider the interplay between innovations in the renewable energy sector and intellectual property.

Solar 

Solar power is captured by solar panels through photovoltaic (PV) technology, which converts sunlight (radiant energy) directly into electricity. Solar panels comprise individual solar cells formed of a semiconductor material, which can be doped and then arranged to form an internal electric field within the cell. When photons with sufficient energy hit the solar cell, they excite electrons within the semiconductor material, breaking them free from their atomic bonds. These free electrons are driven by the internal electric field to generate an electrical current. The choice of semiconductor material and dopant, and the solar cell design, all contribute to the efficiency of the conversion of sunlight into electricity.

Wind 

Whilst solar panels generate electricity directly, wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy, which is then transformed into electrical energy. As the wind blows over the blades of a wind turbine, a pressure difference is created between the two sides of the blade. Similar to an airplane wing, this pressure difference generates lift, causing the blades to rotate. The rotation of the blades drives a shaft connected to a generator inside the housing of the turbine. The generator converts the mechanical energy from the rotating blades into electrical energy. The shape of the blade, the wind speed, and the overall design of the turbine, generator and control systems affect the amount of energy captured and converted into electricity.

Hydroelectric

Similar to wind power, hydroelectric systems generate electricity indirectly, this time through the conversion of gravitational potential energy into mechanical energy and then into electrical energy. In a hydroelectric power plant, water is stored in an elevated position (such as in a reservoir behind a dam). When the water is released from storage, it flows to a relatively lower elevation under the influence of gravity and its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy. The flow of water is used to drive a turbine, which in turn is connected to a generator for the production of electrical energy. The amount of electricity generated depends on the rate of water flow and the height from which it falls, as well as the turbine and generator designs. In general, hydroelectric systems are very efficient, and produce electricity at a more constant rate than solar or wind power (though the generation can be subject to seasonal variations in water availability).

Geothermal

Geothermal power can be less environmentally impactful than hydroelectric systems, since it does not require the construction of large reservoirs or dams. Instead, geothermal technologies convert thermal energy from the Earth into mechanical energy to generate electricity. The Earth’s interior heat originates from the radioactive decay of elements and the residual heat from the planet’s formation. These mechanisms cause rocks and water deep underground to become very hot, creating geothermal reservoirs.  The reservoirs can be accessed by drilling wells to bring the hot water or steam to the Earth’s surface. Once at the surface, the high-pressure steam or hot water is used to drive a turbine and generate electricity. The particular way in which the steam/water turns the turbine depends on the type of geothermal plant, with the efficiency of geothermal power generation depending on the temperature of the geothermal fluid and the specific technology used.

Bioenergy

Bioenergy, or the generation of electricity from organic materials (biomass), involves converting the chemical energy stored in biomass into electrical energy. Biomass refers to any organic material that contains stored chemical energy from the sun. The biomass material can be burned in a combustion chamber, causing the stored chemical energy to be released as heat (thermal energy). Alternatively, biomass can be converted into a combustible gas through processes like anaerobic digestion or gasification, and the gas burned instead. The resulting thermal energy is used to heat water in a boiler, producing steam. The steam is directed onto the blades of a turbine, causing it to spin and thereby generate electricity. The efficiency of electricity generation depends on the type of biomass used, the technology used to generate thermal energy, and the design of the turbine and generator. Biomass is considered a renewable energy source because the carbon dioxide released during combustion is roughly equal to the amount absorbed during growth of the organic material. However, its sustainability depends on responsible sourcing and management of resources.

Energy storage

The growth and adoption of renewable energy technologies is supported by innovations in energy storage. Energy storage addresses the intermittency of resources like solar and wind, and allows more electricity from more stable sources like hydroelectric, geothermal and biomass to be stored for use during periods of increased demand. This is another area we will look at in the coming series.

Renewable energy and patents

The advances in renewable energy technologies, which have led to their reduced cost and greater adoption, are reflected in the number of patent filings in this area. A recent WIPO report found that 31.4% of active patent families worldwide related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with over 900,000 of those patent families relating to SDG7 in some way³. This represents an increase of more than 100% in the last 10 years.

Recent statistics from the European Patent Office tell a similar story. Patent application filings in the electrical machinery, apparatus and energy field (which includes clean energy inventions and battery technologies) grew the fastest out of any technology field⁴. There were 15,304 applications in 2023, representing an increase of 12.2% from 2022.

Figure 1

Although Figure 1 indicates that a large number of these patent filings are by established players in the energy field, there are also a myriad of SMEs and startups operating in the renewable energy space. Whilst filing for patents might seem daunting for smaller companies or individuals, it is important to know that help is available.

The UK Intellectual Property Office, for example, offers a “Green Channel” for patent applications related to environmentally friendly technologies. This allows applicants to request accelerated processing of their patent applications if the invention has a clear environmental benefit.

There are also many different funds and start-up accelerators who specialise in renewable energy or green technologies and can help with investment, development and growth of your company. For instance, the Low Carbon Innovation Fund is “a co-investment fund worth over £100m aimed at SMEs operating in the East of England developing environmentally beneficial technologies, products or services”⁵ which are more energy or resource efficient than what is currently available in the market. Venner Shipley LLP also support The Greenhouse, a climate innovation start-up accelerator, through the Green Tech Legal Collaborative⁶. Financial assistance for intellectual property services may also be available through the new “IP Advance” scheme for SMEs, administered in England by Innovate UK⁷.

For more information or advice on protecting your invention and the help that is available, please get in touch with Alexandra Seymour-Pierce, Kathryn Rose or your usual Venner Shipley adviser.

[1] Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all – Goal 7

[2] IEA (2024), Renewables 2023, IEA, Paris

[3] Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

[4] EPO – Statistics & Trend Centre

[5] Low Carbon Innovation Fund

[6] Imperial – The Greenhouse

[7] Innovate UK – Exploit Innovation