Year in Review: The Transition to a Cleaner, Greener Energy Future

20/12/2024

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the shifts and opportunities in the energy & renewables sector. This year has seen further progress in the transition to cleaner energy with many notable developments.

Among these is the UK’s impressive achievement of reaching a total wind energy generation capacity of 30 gigawatts (GW) – enough to meet the yearly energy requirements of more than 26 million households. The new Labour government also arrived in the summer, with bold plans to make Britain a “clean energy superpower.” This included a series of new policy initiatives and investments, such as the support of 11 green hydrogen projects totalling 125 MW of capacity. These form part of a broader plan to double the nation’s green hydrogen production target by 2030.

While the trajectory is promising, many challenges remain. One key obstacle is the need for an adaptable electricity system to accommodate the fluctuating nature of power generation from renewable sources. Ensuring grid stability while integrating increasing volumes of renewable energy will require advanced energy storage solutions and improved grid infrastructure. Overcoming technical barriers to deployment of on and offshore wind infrastructure also remains a persistent challenge, as does the issue of decommissioning and repurposing existing assets in the north sea basin.

Financial challenges persisted in 2024, particularly in the shift to renewable energy. This transition requires substantial investment in both time and resources to adapt existing systems and develop new technological solutions. These efforts often demand significant funding to ensure emerging technologies are viable and scalable.

As new energy solutions are developed in this challenging environment, strong intellectual property (IP) protection will be crucial for successful commercialisation and return on investment. Indeed, IP should ultimately be seen as a key driver to bring transformative energy solutions from concept to market.

 As a result, it has been another busy year for our dedicated Energy & Cleantech IP team, as we support our clients with their innovative efforts across this space. Our team’s depth of knowledge and experience also allowed us to share a range of perspectives on the latest innovations driving the energy sector forward and the role IP plays in shaping its future.  Consequently, to mark the end of the year, we’ve taken the opportunity to curate the following selection of our 2024 insights.  We look forward to seeing what 2025 has to offer for our team, our clients and the industry as a whole! 

The Sustainable Innovation Report

For London Climate Action Week Reddie & Grose, in collaboration with Beauhurst, released this in-depth report into the start-ups, companies, and technology transfer offices working to address climate and ecological crises. It covers sustainable innovations in manufacturing, materials, electricity generation and storage, building, computing, transport, packaging and recycling to better understand the pioneering work being carried out by innovators in the UK in these sectors.

You can read the full report here: https://www.reddie.co.uk/2024/09/23/sustainable-innovation-report-2024/.

Digitalisation Mini-Series

This four part mini-series explores how digitalisation is set to transform the renewables sector in the coming years. It takes a deep dive into two fields where digitalisation is shaping innovation right now (“Digitalisation in Solar” and “Smart Grids”), and two that seem poised to be shaped by digitalisation in the future (“GenAI in renewables” and “Cybersecurity”).

You can read the articles here:

Digitalisation #1 – Safeguarding the Future: The Critical Role of Cybersecurity in the Energy Transition

Digitalisation #2 – Generative AI and Renewable Energy

Digitalisation #3 – Illuminating where Future Innovation may lie in Solar Power Generation

Digitalisation #4: Smart grid – a blind spot?

Talk IP with R&G: Harnessing Wind – Patent Trends in Renewable Energy

The Cleantech and Energy group join the Talk IP with R&G podcast to discuss innovations in wind energy, assess the state of the industry and review what we can learn from published patent filings.

You can listen to the recording here: https://www.reddie.co.uk/2024/02/29/talk-ip-with-rg/

How we can help …

Our Cleantech and Energy group are dedicated to green innovation in all of its aspects. Our attorneys have extensive experience of advising research and development departments and a deep understanding of the key issues in an often complex legal and business environment. If you would like more information, please contact one of our team.

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.