Unlocking clean energy innovation for the UK’s net zero future
The UK is at a critical crossroads in its net zero journey. As the global clean energy transition accelerates, breakthroughs in renewable technologies and the intellectual property (IP) behind them will determine whether Britain secures economic growth, energy security, and industrial resilience.
Our latest report, Unlocking Clean Energy Innovation, draws on two decades of global patent data and insights from leading investors and innovators. It reveals the technologies shaping the future, benchmarks the UK against international competitors, and exposes structural barriers slowing the scale-up of homegrown innovation.
Expert insight you can trust
This report has been authored by specialists in energy, intellectual property, and commercial law, including partners from Shakespeare Martineau’s energy and innovation teams. Their combined expertise spans clean tech investment, regulatory frameworks, and IP strategy and commercialisation of IP assets – ensuring recommendations are practical, actionable and grounded in real-world experience.
Why this matters
- UK clean energy patent filings peaked at nearly 700 per year before falling sharply post-2020.
- Hydrogen, grid innovation, and industrial energy efficiency critical to net zero, are losing momentum.
- Germany and Sweden file three times more patents per GDP than the UK, while China and the US are pulling ahead.
Without decisive action, the UK risks becoming a buyer, not a builder, of clean energy technology.
What’s inside?
- Two decades of global patent data visualised and analysed
- Sector insights, including hydrogen, storage, grid, e-mobility, nuclear and more
- Case studies showcasing UK projects driving the transition
- Actionable recommendations to accelerate innovation and scale in the UK
- Analysis of where the UK risks losing ground – and how to regain competitiveness
Why download this report?
With political consensus on net zero under strain, this report offers evidence-based insight and clear recommendations to restore clarity, consistency, and investment stability, ensuring the UK remains a predictable, attractive environment for clean energy innovation.
Download the report
Download the full report now to discover how the UK can turn world-class ideas into jobs, resilience, and leadership in the global race to net zero.