Cleantech and Green Tech Patent Lawyer

Clean technology and green technology industries continue to grow, as does investment into these sectors. This technology is necessary to combat the effects of climate change and improve the sustainability of day-to-day life. Visionaries in this field can protect the things they have created to improve their financial future in the industry through intellectual property protection. A cleantech and green tech patent lawyer can help inventors protect their creations.

As the need for this technology increases, so does the likelihood of it being misused by corporations. Independent inventors and entrepreneurs who create groundbreaking inventions have to take steps to safeguard the creation and protect it from competitors, allowing them to engage in fair licensing and sale discussions without risking their invention’s integrity.

What Is Cleantech?

Green tech and cleantech are broad terms for technology created to limit the environmental impact of existing systems and maintain sustainability. This includes renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and water power and related infrastructure; batteries, biofuels, and other energy-saving and storing technology; and technology to conserve existing resources.

The following represent the areas in which current trends, industry development, and advancements in sustainable technology are reducing environmental impact and reshaping the future:

• Renewable energy. By harnessing energy from natural, replenishable sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal, cleantech innovations can reduce dependency on unsustainable and environmentally damaging energy sources. Tesla solar roofs integrate solar power generation directly into building materials in order to maximize energy efficiency, and Oxford PV is commercializing low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells that outperform traditional silicon-based cells.
• Energy storage and battery technology. Advancements in battery technology and grid-scale storage solutions are helping to stabilize renewable energy supplies. For example, QuantumScape’s solid-state batteries offer higher energy density, longer lifespan, and faster charging, making them ideal for electric vehicles. Additionally, companies are making strides in residential battery systems, such as Tesla’s Powerwall, which allow homeowners to store solar energy for backup power.
• Electric vehicles. Electric vehicles (EVs) continue to make progress in reducing reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning to electric and hydrogen power, and autonomous transportation is helping to increase efficiency and safety across the sector. Tesla’s Cybertruck and other vehicles offer high-performance, fully electric vehicles designed for sustainability. Proterra’s electric buses are transforming public transportation by replacing diesel-fueled buses with their zero-emission electric alternative.
• Carbon capture. Cleantech goes beyond simply reducing emissions and pollution by actively capturing and removing CO₂ emissions from industrial sources and repurposing them into useful products. Carbon utilization technologies repurpose captured CO₂ into concrete, fuels, and useful chemicals, effectively turning waste into valuable resources. Climeworks’ Orca in Iceland is a direct air capture plant that removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and stores it underground. CarbonCure Technologies infuses captured CO₂ into their concrete to strengthen it, all the while reducing overall emissions.
• Smart grid and energy efficiency. Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving innovation in electricity distribution by addressing inefficiencies and reducing energy waste across power grid infrastructures. Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Grid provides real-time, IoT-enabled energy management to reduce grid inefficiencies, while Nest Thermostats provide consumer-level energy management devices that learn user behavior in order to optimize heating and cooling efficiency through their smart home products.
• Water purification and management. Advancements in filtration, desalination, and conservation technologies is helping to ensure access to clean water remains sustainable.For example, Desolenator is a solar-powered water purification system that desalinates seawater without the use of harmful chemicals. In addition, Source Global’s atmospheric water generators are able to extract clean drinking water from air moisture using solar power.
• Circular economy and waste management. Reuse and recycle programs aim to create “closed-loop” systems that minimize waste and reduce the environmental impact of single-use products. TerraCycle’s Loop platform represents a global initiative to replace single-use plastics found in in consumer packaging with reusable materials. Likewise, LanzaTech’s carbon recycling can convert industrial waste gases into ethanol, which can be used for fuel, cosmetics, and other consumer goods.
• Agricultural technology. Sustainable agriculture and food technology initiatives have helped to enhance food production efficiency through precision farming, plant-based proteins, and other alternative agriculture efforts. Indigo Ag’s soil carbon solutions use microbial seed coating to boost crop resilience and reduce dependency on traditional fertilizer. Plenty’s vertical farming systems allow for AI-powered indoor farms capable of growing crops with 95% less water and no pesticides.
• Hydrogen and alternative fuels. Advancements in hydrogen fuels represents one of the biggest current trends in renewable energy and alternative fuels, as clean hydrogen fuel production carries significant benefits over traditional fossil fuels.H2 Green Steel is using green hydrogen in Sweden to decarbonize steel manufacturing and replace coal-based methods. Additionally, Plug Power’s hydrogen fuel cells are increasingly powering industrial vehicles, trucks, and forklifts with their zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
• Bio-based materials. Many petroleum-based materials are being replaced with biodegradable, plant-based, and recyclable alternatives, with many companies working to find environmentally responsible solutions across everyday products. For instance, MycoWorks’ Fine Mycelium is a leather alternative grown from mushrooms and is used in fashion, automotives, and furniture. Similarly, companies like RWDC Industries are creating plastic-free alternatives to traditional packaging by creating bioplastics and other carbon-negative products.

Not all inventions will be patentable. In order to be patentable, a creation must fit one of the three types of patents: design patent, utility patent, and plant patent. Each type of patent has its own definition. For all three types of patents, your green tech and cleantech must meet the minimum requirements:

1. It is usable and not theoretical.
2. It is novel and innovative.
3. It is non-obvious and not simply an alteration of an existing invention.
4. There is a straightforward description of the invention, its making, and its use.

If you believe you have a patentable invention, an attorney can review the creation to determine what type of patent you should apply for and help you understand the rights it affords you.

How Can a Patent Protect My Cleantech and Green Tech Invention?

Small business owners, start-ups, and independent inventors frequently deal with difficulties entering the market of cleantech and green tech and maintaining competitiveness against large corporations. Intellectual property protection gives individuals rights to their creations, which can help them take action against the misuse of their invention. It also gives them more leverage when securing investors for the invention and when discussing potential licensing agreements.

There are several potential IP protection options for green tech and cleantech, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Depending on your invention, you could benefit from a copyright, trademark, or trade secret.

A patent is another form of IP protection. Patents can be gained through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). If you obtain a patent for your invention, it gives you the right to prevent other parties from using, selling, making, or offering to sell your invention. It also allows you to prevent others from importing your invention to the U.S. These protections extend through the U.S. states and territories.

The rights of a patent are not automatic, and you do not have sole rights to your invention. Instead, it enables you to take legal action when these rights are infringed on by other parties. The support of a patent attorney helps you get the most protection from your patent and defend your rights from infringement.

Dedicated Legal Representation to Protect Your Technology Innovations

Intellectual property protection for green tech and cleantech is crucial to supporting innovation and helping independent entrepreneurs and inventors benefit from their technology. At Bold Patents, we want to help visionaries like you protect your financial future and the sustainable future of the world.

We have years of experience in IP protection law and can review your invention to determine how to most effectively protect it based on your personal and business goals. If a patent is the right type of IP protection for the technology you have created, our team will help you conduct a patent search, conduct an art search, gather documentation, and apply for your patent.

There are possibilities for fast-tracking green tech and cleantech patents, and our team can help you navigate that process. These technological industries are complex, and it is essential that you work with an attorney who understands the industry and how that impacts patents. At Bold Patents Law Firm, we can provide opinions and legal support in the entire process of IP protection.