Innovation in wave energy doesn’t only happen in laboratories and offshore test sites. It also unfolds in patent offices, licensing agreements, and strategic business decisions. A new paper from the SHY Project consortium takes a closer look at this often-overlooked dimension of wave energy development, investigating the role and effectiveness of intellectual property (IP) in one of the most promising — yet challenging — sectors of renewable energy.
About the Study
Understanding the role of intellectual property in the development of emerging renewable energy technologies is critical, especially as nations transition to low-carbon energy systems. This study investigates the function and effectiveness of patents in the wave energy sector, focusing on their value as innovation indicators and their potential limitations — including the long development timelines of wave energy technologies, the complexities of patent registration, and the risk of patent expiration.
The wave energy sector faces a distinctive challenge: the road from concept to commercial deployment can span decades, and standard patent protection windows may not be well suited to this pace of development.
Key Findings
Alternative IP strategies, such as licensing and trade secrets, are considered in light of these challenges. The study explores how wave energy developers engage with patents and manage IP, examining the approaches of companies across the spectrum of open and closed innovation models.
Patent studies reveal that wave energy technologies are making strides in overcoming challenges such as efficiency, durability, and scalability. These findings suggest that patent information could be better utilised for technology assessment and strategic development. By integrating insights from patent reports into policy and innovation strategies, stakeholders can accelerate the development of wave energy technologies
Implications for the Sector
The study contributes to the broader discourse on the role of patents in renewable energy innovation, emphasising the need for tailored IP strategies that balance protection and knowledge dissemination while accounting for the unique challenges faced by emerging technologies such as wave energy. The findings have implications for policymakers, developers, and investors aiming to advance the wave energy sector in Ireland and globally.
This is particularly relevant for the SHY Project, whose consortium spans nine organisations across seven European countries and whose results — from control strategies to PTO hardware — will need careful IP management to maximise their commercial and societal impact.
Access the Publication
The paper is available in open access through the Zenodo repository: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18656737