11/03/2021
This week, the UK government launched 3 new innovation challenges in the green energy sector, with £92 million allocated in funding. The initiative is part of the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio to drive forward the next generation of technologies which will help decarbonise the energy sector in the UK. It also forms part of the UK Governments 10 point plan, launched last year, to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050.
According to Energy Minister, Anne Marie Trevelyan,
“The UK’s energy innovators have been vital to us becoming a world leader in clean green technology, helping us to go further and faster as we tackle climate change.”
“This funding will allow us to develop new ways of unlocking the potential for green energy as we continue making big strides towards our goal of eradicating our contribution to climate change by 2050.”
£68 million of the £92 million pot has been allocated to energy storage. Energy storage is critical to the energy ecosystem due to the inherent intermittency of clean energy sources such as wind and solar, which form an increasingly important part of the energy supply. The government envisages a first-of-a-kind storage facility that can hold energy over months or even years, until it is needed by consumers.
£20 million is allocated to floating offshore wind; an emerging area of offshore wind which allows for the deployment of wind turbines in areas where the sea is too deep for turbines to be embedded in the seabed. Innovations could include improvements to dynamic high voltage cable systems and moorings for challenging seabed conditions.
The final £4 million is allocated to increasing the production of sustainably sourced biomass in the UK, with a view to supporting local economies and regional growth as well as creating jobs in rural areas. New innovations will help scale up sustainably sourced biomass, as well as helping to improve yields and reduce costs.
The funding will allow successful applicants to develop their technology, establish proof of concept, explore the IP landscape, and acquire intellectual property rights, including patents.
At Reddie & Grose, our multidisciplinary team of experienced patent attorneys are ideally placed to advise on IP issues in the diverse range of technologies in the green energy sector.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
